After several aborted efforts at reforming the planning system over the last three years, the Government published its draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) at the end of December 2022. This is the first in a series of anticipated reforms to be introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is expected to become law later this year. The consultation states that the changes are designed to:

• clarify how housing need figures should be derived;

• improve the operation of the housing delivery and land supply test;

• increase build out rates; and

• increase incentives to adopt and maintain local plans

In the consultation papers, the Government reiterated its commitment to increasing housing delivery to reach the target of 300,000 homes per year. However, our analysis of the proposed changes suggests that they will not produce the desired results, either through encouraging a higher level of plan-making with suitable house targets, or through holding local planning authorities (LPA) to account to ensure they deliver the number of homes they should be planning for. The optics of the reforms appear to facilitate greater local decision-making. But the proposal that the standard method for calculating need becomes an “advisory starting point” will likely result in more LPAs adopting lower housing targets. Changes to the operation of the Housing Delivery Test and 5-year housing land supply (5YHLS) requirements will limit the potential for developers to bring forward sites under the presumption in favour, even when LPAs may not be delivering enough homes. The conundrum also remains of unmet housing needs, notably those of the 20 largest urban areas.

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