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
6 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Stop-start national planning policy reform creates uncertainty and halts local plan progress.
National planning policy has been characterised by stop-start reform over several years. This has regrettably resulted in uncertainty among local authorities and across the planning sector. Contrary to the Government’s objective of facilitating plan- making, the short-term effect of its … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the consultation on proposed NPPF changes and is considering responses, stating they will continue to assess potential impacts, but does not specifically address the committee's concerns about uncertainty or halted local plan progress.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Standard method formula not fit for purpose due to arbitrary urban uplift
The need for the urban uplift demonstrates that the standard method formula is not currently fit for purpose. The 35% urban uplift is an arbitrary figure, which is not calculated based on local housing need in the areas where it … Read more
Government Response
The government defends the urban uplift by reiterating its rationale for directing homes to urban centers for regeneration and leveling up, and states they intend to review the approach to housing needs after 2021 Census data is released, but does not commit to publishing the evidence base for the current uplift.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Secure broad political consensus for long-term implementation of the new Infrastructure Levy
We share our predecessor Committee’s view that when considering new mechanisms for land value capture it is vital that the Government learns the right lessons from the past. If the Government is determined to implement the new Infrastructure Reforms to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to ensure Infrastructure Levy reforms are successful, committing to further consultation, a "Test and Learn" approach, and parliamentary scrutiny to ensure the Levy achieves its aims and can be adjusted if needed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
New Infrastructure Levy risks being more complicated than current planning finance system
It is not clear that the new Infrastructure Levy (IL) as it is currently proposed will be swifter and simpler for local authorities to administer than the current CIL/Section 106 agreement regime. The potential for multidimensional charging schedules with many … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges concerns about the complexity of the Infrastructure Levy, committing to further consultation, a 'Test and Learn' approach, and parliamentary reporting to ensure the reforms are effective and achieve their aims.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Infrastructure Levy amendments do not guarantee existing affordable housing delivery levels
We welcome that the Government has tabled amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to strengthen the duty of local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes under the new IL as they do under the current system … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concern regarding affordable housing delivery under the new Infrastructure Levy, committing to a "Test and Learn" approach and a parliamentary report to monitor the Levy's impact and allow for necessary adjustments.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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24 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Reforms to nation…
Insufficient detail on National Development Management Policies risks overriding local plans without oversight
It is regrettable that the Government has still not provided sufficient detail on the content of National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) for stakeholders to fully understand the impact they will have on the planning system. While NDMPs may make the … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies that National Development Management Policies will sit alongside local plans and be subject to public consultation before introduction, providing scrutiny, to ensure national policy protections apply without superseding the plan-led system.
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