Planning changes ‘extremely concerning’, BPF warns

Planned changes to the National Planning Policy Framework “will only create more delays and obstacles to development”, the British Property Federation has warned. Consultation on the changes closes today, with the BPF stating that the government risks undermining its aim to build 300,000 homes a year. BPF chief executive Melanie Leech said: “The proposed reforms will only create more delays and obstacles to development at a time when market conditions are already very challenging.” The industry body added that the potential impact on development was “extremely concerning”, and appeared to “actively work against” the ambition to level up the UK. In its response to the consultation, the BPF said scrapping the requirement for a five-year housing land supply pipeline would result in less residential development. Leech said: “The proposed changes to how local authorities assess housing need will create less urgency rather than more, and if fewer homes are delivered it follows that less land will be allocated for employment uses. In order to create communities that are truly sustainable we need a planning framework that strikes the right balance between addressing housing need at the local level, and enabling a national strategic approach to employment space and infrastructure.” The BPF also highlighted “clear contradictions” between the policy to focus housing delivery in 20 of the UK’s largest town and cities, and the new proposal to water down requirements for local authorities to undertake a green belt review. It points out that most of the urban areas identified for housing growth are surrounded by green belt or undeveloped land. It also warns that a decline in housing delivery would mean a proportionate decrease in land allocated for employment uses, which in turn would impact economic growth and productivity. Further consultations on planning for logistics space and the infrastructure levy are due later in the year. Leech said that while she was “pleased to see government engaging fully with industry, the piecemeal nature of planning reform is causing further uncertainty”. Taylor Wimpey has also criticised the proposals. In its full-year results this morning the housebuilder said: “The approach to housing numbers locally, a relaxation of the soundness test for plan-making and the removal of the need for planning authorities to maintain a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites could result in further delays and a shortfall in the supply of sites.” To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews