Practical steps for local authorities to unlock and accelerate residential development in light of new national planning policy
The country has consistently fallen short of meeting its growing housing needs, failing to achieve the delivery targets set by successive governments. In the north, housing supply is constrained due to Green Belt designations, whilst brownfield regeneration efforts are hindered by high construction costs and abnormal costs linked to the region’s industrial heritage.
At the same time, the government’s economic growth agenda focuses on reforms to the planning system to boost housing delivery and economic growth. Supported by a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), these reforms include:
- A new Standard Method for calculating Local Housing Need.
- Reintroduction of the Local Housing Need figure as the minimum mandatory starting point for assessing housing needs.
- Revisions to Green Belt policy, including the introduction of ‘Grey Belt’.
- Restoring the requirement for all Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply (5YHLS).
These changes will significantly impact the financial and housing delivery pressures already faced by local authorities.
Hive Land & Planning has developed a toolkit to help local authorities respond positively to these challenges. Our solutions promote housing delivery, economic growth, and assist councils in maximising the value of their land assets to help ease financial pressures.
Hive is an award-winning consultancy with the expertise to unlock residential land through the following steps:
Step 1 – Evidence Base & Pipeline: Undertake a detailed analysis of local housing delivery to identify areas which can be specifically targeted for improvement, and formulate a credible pipeline of deliverable residential sites.
Step 2 – Brownfield Land & Regeneration: We develop strategies to maximize brownfield land development potential and stimulate market interest.
Step 3 – Unlocking Publicly Owned Land: Support public bodies in de-risking and disposing of residential development sites, securing necessary public sector funding.
Step 4 – Grey Belt & Other Site Typology Review: Help local authorities understand the scale of development opportunities within their area to assist with housing delivery, focusing on grey belt and other land sources.
For further details on the toolkit, please refer to the accompanying brochure. We would be delighted to discuss your requirements further.
