A coalition of charities has written to the Prime Minister and Communities Secretary to call for a reset in the Government’s approach to its development and planning policy
The charities, including RSPB, Woodland Trust and CPRE, warn that the government’s approach to planning policy “risks the worst of all possible worlds”.
The letter from members of the Better Planning Coalition comes as Ministers are set to make final decisions on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
New planning policy will overrule local authorities
The NPPF will introduce new “national decision-making policies” that, in most cases, will overrule local authorities’ Local Plans.
The new NPPF also strengthens the presumption in favour of development by further restricting the matters which could overrule the NPPF’s “default yes” to development.
Falling housing supply increases urge for regional power
These changes come against a backdrop of falling housing supply, with major developers scaling back their plans amid economic uncertainty and rising costs, despite the government’s 1.5m new homes target.
The government faces a choice between further weakening the planning system in response and adopting an alternative approach, such as working more closely with metro mayors and others to boost public sector housing delivery, including through new regional planning powers.
Overall, the new proposals will weaken the planning system
The charities warn that further weakening of planning policy could risk the worst of all possible worlds with “raised but unmet expectations of affordable housing, an obsession with planning reform to increase supply while developers scale back their plans, and a planning system that can no longer ensure that development works for nature, communities and the climate.”
Commenting on the letter, Better Planning Coalition convenor Richard Hebditch said: “Weakening the planning system is not leading to an increase in housebuilding. But it will likely lead to poor quality development and fuel a backlash against development.
He concluded: “Now is a good time for the Government to reset its approach to planning and development.”
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