Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Seventh Report - Reforms to national planning policy
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 1122
Published 14 July 2023
Recommendations
2
Not Addressed
Para 15
Pause plans for further planning reform, ensuring stability for existing implementations.
Recommendation
The Government must see the merit in pausing plans for further reform, in order to allow for a period of stability in which reforms already introduced can be properly implemented, and any lessons from that implementation learned.
Government Response Summary
The government does not commit to pausing further reforms, stating it is still considering responses to the December 2022 NPPF consultation and will continue its targeted approach to evaluating reforms due to resource constraints.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7
Not Addressed
Para 35
Publish comprehensive analysis showing how NPPF changes will deliver 300,000 annual new homes
Recommendation
In line with its previous commitment to us, the Government must publish its own comprehensive analysis, as part of its response to the December 2022 consultation, to demonstrate how the proposed changes to the NPPF will facilitate delivering 300,000 Reforms …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it expects to publish its response to the consultation later in the autumn/year, implicitly delaying the committee's requested September 2023 deadline, but does not commit to publishing the comprehensive analysis or evidence base for how NPPF changes will deliver 300,000 homes, nor to explaining any further delays.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8
Not Addressed
Para 36
Set and commit to annual housing targets aligned with 300,000 net new homes per year
Recommendation
In order to aid transparency and accountability for housing delivery, the Department must set and commit to annual housing targets that are in line with the Government’s commitment to deliver 300,000 net new homes per year by the mid-2020s and …
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Government Response Summary
The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 1 million homes over the Parliament and working towards 300,000 homes annually. However, it does not commit to setting specific annual housing targets or detail how they will be achieved, instead referencing its existing standard method and ongoing efforts.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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9
Not Addressed
Para 37
Require Minister to explain government action if NPPF reforms reduce housebuilding
Recommendation
If the NPPF reforms, once they have been implemented, do result in a reduction in housebuilding, the Minister for Housing and Planning should write to us as soon as this becomes apparent, and should explain whether the Government intends to …
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Government Response Summary
The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 300,000 homes per year and protecting the Green Belt, but does not address the recommendation to write to the committee if NPPF reforms lead to a reduction in housebuilding or explain its future course of action in that scenario.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Conclusions (2)
5
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 33
We support the principle of a plan-led system and are sympathetic to the Government’s wish to ensure more local authorities have up-to-date local plans. However, it is difficult to see how the Government will achieve its 300,000 net national housing target by the mid-2020s if local targets are only advisory. …
Government Response Summary
The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 300,000 homes per year and the role of the standard method for local housing need, but does not provide evidence demonstrating how advisory local targets will directly lead to more housebuilding, as requested by the committee.
6
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 34
We are sceptical of the Minister for Housing and Planning’s confidence that greater local plan coverage will result in more housebuilding. If there is no longer a requirement for up-to-date local plans to continually demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and if housing targets in local plans are to be …
Government Response Summary
The government defends its housebuilding record and commitment to delivering 300,000 homes a year, referencing its standard method and commitment to Green Belt protection. However, it does not directly address the committee's specific scepticism regarding the effectiveness of advisory housing targets and the removal of the five-year land supply requirement in achieving these goals.