Planning changes to be discussed at HBF Conference

The government has this week announced significant proposed changes to the planning system affecting housebuilders large and small alike.

These changes – including moves aimed at improving build out rates and plans to ease the path for SMEs – will be discussed at this year’s HBF Planning Conference, in September.

The recent changes are in addition to a series of reforms and new initiatives announced earlier in the year as the government strives to deliver 1.5 million new homes in England.

The Conference, which will be held on September 17 2025 at Austin Court, Birmingham, will look to make sense of the wave of changes and discuss what will – and what won’t – make the path to building those homes easier for housebuilders.

As well as this week’s proposed changes, the Conference will consider the details of the reform of the National Planning Policy Framework, the return of mandatory targets, the definitions of “grey belt” and the implications of the “golden rules”.

Delegates and speakers will also discuss the details of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as the government reiterates its determination to “back the builders, not the blockers”.

With HBF research …