Housing Delivery - How Are Local Authorities Performing?

Posted by Premier Guarantee on 15th February 2022 -

Almost one in six local planning authorities in England must presume in favour of sustainable development following the release of the Government’s Housing Delivery Test figures for 2021.

Despite an easing of the calculations to allow for the disruption caused by the pandemic, more than 15% of local authorities delivered less than 75% of their housing need, the threshold that triggers the “presumption” consequence for sustainable development.

A further 6% of authorities will be required to increase their five-year land supply for housing by 20% having delivered 85% of homes against target, while another 7% that delivered less than 95% of the target will need to produce an action plan to tackle the deficit.

What does this mean for developers?

The Housing Delivery Test is one of the measures the Government has introduced to tackle supply of new homes in England.

It is the second year that the 75% threshold has existed for triggering “presumption in favour of sustainable development”, a National Planning Policy Framework policy that requires developments meeting sustainable criteria and the authority’s local plan be given planning permission “without delay.”

Crucially, the policy also allows for sustainable development to be given permission where no up-to-date local development plan exists, meaning the planning application in those areas would be subject to the policies of the national framework alone.

Developers should therefore expect the planning “presumption” to count in their favour when applying for permission for sustainable development in these areas.

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