New NPPF sees the return of housing targets

The government has confirmed new planning rules including the return of mandatory housing targets and the prioritising of its newly created “grey belt“ land.

Under the plans, introduced through an updated National Planning Policy Framework, councils will be told they must play their part to meet housing need by reaching a new ambitious combined target of 370,000 homes a year.

In addition to the targets the new rules will see:

• A new approach to the green belt which will require councils to review their green belt boundaries to meet targets, identifying and prioritising lower quality “grey belt” land
• Any development on green belt must meet new requirements, dubbed the “golden rules”, which require developers to provide the necessary infrastructure for local communities, such as nurseries, GP surgeries and transport, as well as a “premium level” of social and affordable housing
• Councils and developers having to give greater consideration to social rent and greater powers to build genuinely affordable homes

There has already been some concerns about the “grey belt” definition. Victoria Du Croz, head of planning at law firm Forsters said the government had failed to provide detail on the ”grey belt”. “Without increased clarity …