NPPF consultation ends with call to support housing of all tenures

The consultation for revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework closed today, with real estate asking the government for a planning policy that “supports the development of homes of all tenures”. The consultation, which was launched in July this year, sought views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to increasing planning fees, as well as local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain nationally significant infrastructure projects. Following the close, the British Property Federation has asked the government to “place greater focus” on sites than can deliver a mix of tenures such as build-to-rent, senior living, affordable housing and student accommodation as well as private homes for sale.   Melanie Leech, chief executive of the BPF, said: “The government has quickly recognised that to drive economic growth and deliver more homes we need a planning system that is fit for purpose and we fully support the overall intent of the changes proposed. “Now is the time to create a policy framework that will supercharge the delivery of homes of all tenures, including build-to-rent and affordable homes.” She added: “New homes and the communities they sit within require critical infrastructure, including logistics and jobs, to be economically sustainable. Housing targets must align with employment space targets so we create places where people want to live. “Alongside the positive policy changes proposed by the government, we need to have a planning system that is resourced to respond. We need to ensure planning departments and statutory consultees have the resources they need to meet increasing demand and help turn the government’s bold vision into reality.” Support the small builders Meanwhile, affordable housing developer Pocket Living has reiterated calls for the government to adopt a more permissive planning regime for small sites against a backdrop of declining planning permissions and build-out rates across the housebuilding sector. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, residential approvals in the second quarter of this year fell by 5% compared with Q2 2023. Paul Rickard, managing director of Pocket Living, said: “The planned changes within the NPPF are a positive start and we want to work with government to go further with the amendments and introduce an explicit presumption in favour of sustainable development for small sites to provide a vital lifeline to the small and medium-sized builders, who build out the majority of small sites. “In 1988, SME housebuilders were responsible for building 39% of new homes. Today this figure stands at less than 10% and thus more explicit support is needed in the planning system for small and medium-sized developers.” Industrial still matters  Despite the sector welcoming the government’s focus on housing, ArcelorMittal Kent Wire, which provides 30% of the UK’s steel on infrastructure projects including HS2 and numerous housing schemes, has warned the focus on housing must not come at the expense of sites that are still in industrial use. Matt Brooks, managing director AMKW Ltd, said: “While we naturally support measures to increase housing growth, including the use of green belt and grey belt land, this cannot come at the expense of decimating our industrial sites like the threat we face at Chatham Docks. “We believe that a simple amendment to national planning policy could prevent this through a specific reference to the industries such as ours which are key to growth and a clause in the NPPF preventing the loss of their facilities except in exceptional circumstances. Almost like we have to prove very special circumstances exists to build on the greenbelt at present, so the same should apply for any proposed development on key industrial sites.”