The government has issued the revised National Planning Policy Framework, which will see the introduction of a new housing delivery test for local authorities.
It is the first rewrite of the policy for six years and follows a draft version that was issued for consultation in March.
In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said that “building attractive and better-designed homes” was at the centre of the new planning rules.
From November 2018 councils will have a housing delivery test. As previously outlined in the March consultation, this will focus on increasing the numbers of homes actually delivered in their area, rather than how many are planned for.
Secretary of state James Brokenshire (pictured) said: “Fundamental to building the homes our country needs is ensuring that our planning system is fit for the future.
“This revised planning framework sets out our vision of a planning system that delivers the homes we need. I am clear that quantity must never compromise the quality of what is built, and this is reflected in the new rules.
“We have listened to the tens of thousands of people who told us their views, making this a shared strategy for development in England.”
Brokenshire added that the government remained focused on achieving 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s. In total, 217,000 homes were built last year.
To send feedback, e-mail anna.ward@egi.co.uk or tweet @annaroxelana or @estatesgazette
