The UK government has unveiled a sweeping planning system reform aimed at addressing the country’s housing crisis by delivering 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
The changes, outlined in an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), include mandatory housing targets for local councils, a focus on developing lower-quality “grey belt” land, and increased investment in planning resources.
Key features of the planning reforms
1. Mandatory Housing Targets:
Councils will be required to collectively deliver 370,000 new homes annually, with higher targets set for areas where housing is least affordable and demand is highest. Local authorities will also face stricter deadlines to adopt updated local plans.
2. Prioritisation of Development Land:
While the reforms maintain a “brownfield first” approach, councils will now be encouraged to review their greenbelt boundaries and identify lower-quality “grey belt” land for potential development. Any projects on greenbelt land must adhere to strict criteria, including providing affordable housing, local infrastructure, and green spaces.
3. Support for Planning Infrastructure:
To accelerate housing delivery, the government will provide an additional £100m in funding for councils to hire more planning officers and conduct necessary technical assessments. An extra 300 planning officers will also be recruited nationwide.
4. Affordable and Social Housing Emphasis:
Developers will be required to prioritise social rent housing and ensure that new projects include necessary local services such as nurseries, healthcare facilities, and transportation links. Councils will have greater powers to enforce affordable housing quotas.
5. Brownfield Development Initiatives:
The government is exploring “brownfield passports” to simplify and speed up development approvals on urban brownfield sites. Further details are expected next year.
Tackling the housing crisis
The reforms come amid a backdrop of severe housing challenges. Over 1.3 million households are on social housing waiting lists, and a record number of families, including 160,000 children, are living in temporary accommodations. The new measures aim to address these issues by boosting housing supply and reducing barriers to homeownership.
Economic growth and housing affordability
The planning overhaul is positioned as a key element of the government’s broader economic growth strategy. By increasing housing supply and ensuring that development aligns with community needs, officials hope to make homeownership more accessible for working families while stimulating local economies.
Consultation and next steps
The government’s response to the NPPF consultation incorporates feedback from over 10,000 submissions. Upcoming steps include a formal public consultation on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will introduce additional measures to streamline the planning process. Local planning authorities are invited to apply for a share of £14.8m in grant funding to support local plan delivery and greenbelt reviews.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Reform is desperately needed if we are to build 1.5 million homes. Under the current planning framework just under one third of local authorities have adopted a local plan within the last five years and the number of homes granted planning permission had also been allowed to fall to its lowest level in a decade.
“That has to change. Following consultation, areas must commit to timetables for new plans within 12 weeks the updated NPPF or ministers will not hesitate to use their existing suite of intervention powers to ensure plans are put in place.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:
“Today’s landmark overhaul will sweep away last year’s damaging changes and shake-up a broken planning system which caves into the blockers and obstructs the builders.
“I will not hesitate to do what it takes to build 1.5 million new homes over five years and deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
”We must all do our bit and we must all do more. We expect every local area to adopt a plan to meet their housing need. The question is where the homes and local services people expect are built, not whether they are built at all.”
Previous housing initiatives
The government has already implemented several measures to support housing development, including:
• Launching a New Homes Accelerator to address delays in the planning system.
• Establishing a New Towns Taskforce to facilitate large-scale developments.
• Allocating £68 million to unlock housing on brownfield sites.
• Extending the Home Building Fund to provide £700 million for small and medium-sized housebuilders.
With these reforms, the government aims to tackle the housing crisis, enhance affordability, and deliver sustainable growth in communities across England.
Read the National Planning Policy Framework Policy paper.