Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy consultation – member briefing

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is currently consulting on a number of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

The government is committed to reforming national planning policy as part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, and discussions around planning have dominated the debate around the bill.

The NHF is concerned that some of the changes proposed in this consultation will weaken the requirement for local authorities to provide an adequate housing supply and make planning for development more vulnerable to political pressure. Both of which could lead to a reduction in housing delivery overall, in turn potentially impacting affordable housing provision.

The NHF will be responding to this consultation on behalf of the sector to set out the importance of affordable homes in tackling the housing crisis in England. We will use this consultation to reinforce the impact housing associations have in building strong, mixed communities, and how planning policy can aid the delivery of them.

To help shape our response we are seeking views from members in response to the questions and proposals outlined in our briefing.

We are asking housing associations to get in touch and share their views by no later than 17 February 2023.