Gove confirms removal of housing targets

The government has confirmed it will scrap housing targets for local authorities in its long-awaited revision of the National Planning Policy Framework, published today (December 19).

In a speech at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), levelling up secretary Michael Gove stated that the standard method for calculating housing need had “always” been advisory although it remained “the basis” for local authorities’ housing assessments.

But this change, following concessions made to Conservative backbenchers in December 2022, downgrades local authorities’ duties to objectively assess housing need from a “requirement” to “advisory”.

At the same time, Gove stressed throughout his speech that under the new NPPF, he would not tolerate local councils being behind with local plans. He said there would be “no excuse” for local authorities not to have their plans prepared and in place.

Gove stated: “Local councils must have a plan in place and must deliver against it.”

The levelling up secretary announced that his department would publish league tables to reveal the actual performance of local authorities.

And he would clamp down on some local authorities’ use of extension of time agreements which adversely affected developers. “I am so concerned by these …