There’s much to applaud in the government’s proposed planning reforms for England, writes our CEO Stephen O’Malley in a blog first published in ICE which you can read here:

The UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is reforming planning policy to support economic growth in England. The UK government has promised to deliver 1.5 million new homes.

Doing so at this scale means creating great neighbourhoods and thriving settlements, integrating and adding to current infrastructure, and working in harmony with the local landscape.

To achieve this, MHCLG is seeking views on proposed changes to England’s National Planning Policy Framework. Their approach focuses on three pillars: stability, investment, and reform.

Change starts locally: More flexibility for ministers to intervene in local planning

Delivering these objectives starts with local planning authorities. They prepare local plans, which set policies for delivering homes, commercial development, and wider infrastructure.

These policies are a key part of the planning system. They are central to planning application decisions, which must align with national priorities unless there are strong reasons not to.

Certain criteria allow ministers to intervene in local planning decisions to ensure housing delivery. The consultation proposes updating these criteria—or removing them altogether—to give ministers more flexibility.

Better strategic planning between local authorities

Local authorities should work together across administrative boundaries to accommodate housing needs. This is called the ‘duty to cooperate’. The consultation proposes not only strengthening the existing duty to cooperate, but also introducing new mechanisms for cross-boundary planning.

The proposed model will help elected mayors implement spatial development strategies for their areas. This will also be important in delivering local growth plans and nature recovery strategies.

Introducing ‘grey belt’ development

The consultation stresses that brownfield development alone won’t be enough to meet England’s housing needs. It proposes the targeted release of ‘grey belt’ land – “poor quality and ugly” areas of the green belt – to help meet targets.

Reallocated green belt land must meet new ‘golden rules’ for exemplary design. These call for at least 50% affordable housing (including social rent), necessary infrastructure improvements, and accessible local green spaces.

The revised system will support the environmental requirements already in place for new developments, such as biodiversity net gain. It’s expected that local planning authorities will specify clear policies on green space requirements. Local plans will be able to draw on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework and the National Model Design Code (NMDC).

Expanding the definition of ‘nationally significant’ infrastructure

Alongside these specific changes, the consultation also seeks views on the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime. The NSIP regime streamlines the consenting process for big infrastructure schemes that are critical to growing the economy.

The consultation asks whether the NSIP definition should expand to include onshore wind, solar, data centres, laboratories, and gigafactories, as well as a wider range of water projects. This will be the first step of the government’s NSIP reform plans.

The consultation also proposes reimbursing local authorities for their important role in the NSIP development consent process.

Removing the subjective term ‘beauty’

The current NPPF includes references to ‘beauty’ in the built environment. MHCLG acknowledges beauty as a crucial design goal.

However, the NMDC and National Design Guide already provide a clear framework for local planning authorities, developers, and communities. The consultation therefore calls for the removal of the subjective term ‘beauty’ from the NPPF.

Supporting healthy lifestyles

The consultation recognises that homes need support from a range of services and facilities to be healthy and sustainable.

Creating healthy communities can reduce the burden on social infrastructure, such as hospitals. As part of this, the government aims to promote active travel and tackle childhood obesity.

Transport infrastructure plays a vital role in creating sustainable communities and supporting economic growth.

The consultation emphasises a ‘vision-led’ approach to transport planning that focuses on outcomes and how to achieve them.

‘Much to applaud’ in the consultation…

There’s much to applaud in the spirit and detail of this NPPF consultation. It clearly recognises the complex dynamic across geographies, agencies, stakeholders, and the landscape.

New homes are the spearhead of an ecosystem of commerce, services, infrastructure, and amenities. It’s a whole-life, single-system approach.

…but some aspects need reinforcing

While the consultation briefing and questions lay out this intention, however, some aspects need reinforcing.

The vision-led approach to transport is a welcome pivot, setting a fresh approach to spatial planning that offers accessibility over mobility.

All of this strengthens the likelihood of people making shorter trips by active means – improving public health, addressing social justice, and reducing environmental damage.

There’s no mention of Manual for Streets 3, however. The Manual for Streets is guidance for professionals who design, build, adopt, and maintain residential streets, including developers, highway authorities, and planners.

Much has changed since the second document was published 14 years ago. An updated and more widely adopted version will help improve the design standard of streets and public places.

Furthermore, the framework needs to be more explicit about a nature-first approach in the design and delivery of infrastructure.

Integrating and regenerating natural systems in city neighbourhoods makes visiting, working, and living in them aspirational.

And it makes them more functional, improving economic and environmental outcomes. [Credit: Shutterstock via ICE]