Reforms to national planning policy

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 2 Feb 2023 Closed: 18 Mar 2024 Parliament page
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee will be examining the Government’s current consultation on reforms to national planning policy, looking at the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Government’s wider approach to planning reform. The Committee is expected to examine the Government’s proposed changes … Read more
17 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
8 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
29 Nov
2023
Report published
12 Sep
2023
Correspondence
18 Jul
2023
Correspondence
14 Jul
2023
Report published
27 Jun
2023
Correspondence
13 Jun
2023
Correspondence
13 Jun
2023
Correspondence
24 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
24 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
18 Apr
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
13 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
24 Apr 2023
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Rachel Maclean · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
13 Mar 2023
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Councillor James Jamieson · Local Government Association Kate Henderson · National Housing Federation Richard Blyth · Royal Town Planning Institute Sam Stafford · Home Builders Federation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Reforms to national planning policy HC 1122 14 Jul 2023 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
11 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Prioritise and incentivise brownfield development while protecting Green Belt green spaces
The development of brownfield sites should be prioritised and incentivised, and green spaces in the Green Belt should be protected. However, brownfield sites alone cannot deliver 300,000 net new homes per year in the long-term. In particular, the greater upfront … Read more
Government Response
The government affirms its commitment to prioritizing brownfield development and protecting Green Belt land through existing national planning policy and financial support, stating that local authorities are not required to review Green Belt boundaries to meet housing needs.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Encourage neighbouring local authorities to cooperate on housing delivery across shared borders
The Government plans to abolish the Duty to Cooperate without clearly setting out what it will be replaced with. This is despite the Government having agreed with our recommendation in a previous report that the Duty to Cooperate should not … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies that cooperation between local planning authorities will remain, stating it intends to retain joint local plans and introduce new joint spatial development strategies. It confirms that existing legal duties, including the duty to cooperate, will still apply, thereby addressing the committee's concern and outlining how cooperation will be encouraged.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Ensure local planning authorities possess specialist skills and sufficient resources for implementing reforms
There continues to be a pressing need for additional resources for local planning authorities to ensure the efficient working of the planning system and to implement the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government must ensure local planning authorities have the specialist … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the serious capacity and capability challenges faced by local planning authorities and has committed £37.5 million in additional funding, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to recruit, retain, and upskill planners, alongside increasing planning application fees to provide further resources.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for local planning authorities before implementing reforms
The Government should publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector, in line with its commitment to us. The strategy should clearly explain how the resourcing and skill needs of local planning authorities will be met; and … Read more
Government Response
The government has committed £37.5 million, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to help local authorities recruit, retain, and upskill planners. They are also implementing planning fee increases and conducting a survey to understand skill needs, addressing the call for a resources and skills strategy.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Adjust Infrastructure Levy or provide alternative funding if affordable housing delivery falls short
If the new IL falls short of delivering sufficient funding for local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes as the current regime, then the Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part of ‘test and learn’. Failing … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to a "Test and Learn" approach and further consultation on the Infrastructure Levy, supported by a parliamentary report on its impact, which will allow for scrutiny and necessary adjustments to ensure it delivers sufficient funding and affordable homes.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 25 of 17 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 6
Not Addressed 6
Rejected 4
Total 17 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
12 Sep 2023 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 1 September 2023 concerning housing investment
Parliament page
18 Jul 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 17 July 2023 concerning housing investment and the National Planning Policy Framework
Parliament page
27 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 20 June 2023 concerning Alignment Policy
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 12 June 2023 concerning Alignment Policy
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 6 June 2023 following up her appearance before the Committee on 24 April
Parliament page
18 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from the Local Government Association to the Chair dated 24 March 2023 concerning reforms to national planning policy
Parliament page
28 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister for State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 21 February 2023 concerning planning reform consultations
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 6 February 2023 concerning consultations on planning
Parliament page