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
4 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Urgently conduct and publish impact assessments for all future NPPF changes, with clear timelines.
The Government should urgently conduct and publish impact assessments on all future NPPF changes. It should take a more strategic approach to future consultations, including publishing timelines for the implementation of its proposed reforms. (Paragraph 22) The national housing target Read more
Government Response
The government states it will continue to consider the potential impacts, including equalities, of NPPF changes, but indicates a targeted approach to evaluation due to resource constraints and does not commit to publishing all impact assessments or timelines for future reforms.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
16 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Delay abolishing the Duty to Cooperate until a new regional housing alignment policy is published
The Government should ensure that the new alignment policy requires local authorities to work together on housing delivery, or introduce other mechanisms to encourage regional cooperation between local authorities on housing delivery. The detail of the new alignment policy must … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the need for continued cooperation, stating the Duty to Cooperate will remain in place until June 2025, and intends to introduce new joint spatial development strategies and supplementary plans to encourage regional cooperation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Outline ‘test and learn’ process and timeline for piloting the new Infrastructure Levy regime
Whilst piloting the new IL is a sensible approach, the Government must outline from the outset exactly how the ‘test and learn’ process will work and set out a limited timeline. The Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to further consultation and a "Test and Learn" approach for the Infrastructure Levy, stating that necessary changes can be made and further details on the process will be provided as policy design progresses, but does not specify a limited timeline from the outset.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
25 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Subject National Development Management Policies to full parliamentary scrutiny before implementation
Each draft NDMP should be subject to full and proper parliamentary scrutiny before coming into force. Any draft NDMP which would have the effect of superseding the plan-led system should be carefully considered in Parliament on a case-by-case basis. 40 … Read more
Government Response
The government states National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) will not supersede the plan-led system and will be subject to public consultation, allowing Parliamentarians to scrutinise them, but does not commit to making them subject to the same formal parliamentary requirements as National Policy Statements.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
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