National Planning Policy Framework

Alex Brewer supported the need for building homes but criticised the Government's failure to introduce targets for council and social housing. He highlighted that under previous Conservative Administrations, Hart district and Basingstoke councils failed to produce local plans, leading to speculative development on the edges of towns and villages without accompanying infrastructure. He noted how these areas are now easy targets for inappropriate developments due to new Government housing targets, with developers land-banking to protect profits. Brewer also raised concerns about water supply issues in North East Hampshire, citing a lack of statutory consultee powers and environmental impacts.

The MP congratulated his colleague on securing the debate and highlighted the inequity of national targets imposed through the National Planning Policy Framework. He noted that the framework has weakened the rural exception policy, which was productive in delivering affordable homes in rural areas like Cornwall. The MP argued that local authorities can no longer designate rural exception sites due to the new framework, leading to conversion to open-market housing developments and a lack of means to deliver affordable housing. The Minister says that the purpose of the policy is to drive the need for affordable homes. However, in rural areas, this is driving affordable homes off rural exception sites and making them unaffordable. The setting of targets means local plans are no longer viable.

Stressed the importance of local people and elected officials playing a role in deciding their area's future due to their understanding of it. Highlighted successful examples like Holt village's neighbourhood plan and Seend's community land trust delivering affordable homes.

He criticised the national planning policy framework as broken and beyond reform due to decades of deregulation, leading to speculative development and ignoring local democratic processes. He called for a new system that puts power in the hands of communities.

The MP is concerned about the threat to green belt land protection under the Government's grey belt policy. She noted that South Gloucestershire council has a local plan delivering homes while protecting remaining countryside, but the new framework undermines this deal by parceling up green belt land for individual assessment, leading to cumulative degradation of the overall green belt. The MP argued that the changes would lead to delays in housing delivery and urged the Minister to revisit the NPPF.

Welcomed the move towards stronger wording in the NPPF regarding intentional unauthorised development but argued it does not go far enough. Highlighted concerns over increased housing targets for rural areas, exacerbated by water supply issues and local government reorganisation plans.

The NPPF changes have led to urban sprawl, releasing green-belt land for development and disproportionately increasing housing targets in rural areas. The CPRE research shows that 88% of homes on grey-belt sites are built on previously undeveloped countryside. There is enough brownfield land to build 1.41 million homes without encroaching on the green belt.

Amos raised concerns about the National Planning Policy Framework, arguing that it centralises power away from local communities and undermines infrastructure investment. He cited specific examples such as the Orchard Portman development near Taunton where 1,100 acres of farmland were sold without community approval. Amos also pointed out that the framework proposes a de facto presumption in favour of development, which could undermine local plan preparation efforts. Additionally, he mentioned the impact on green belt areas and highlighted issues with proposed changes regarding biodiversity net gain and energy targets.

Jim Shannon commended the hon. Lady for her ambition but raised concerns about a risk of severe regulatory divergence if the English planning system undergoes massive deregulation and introduces a faster, rules-based approach to major projects.

John Hayes endorsed the hon. Lady's comments on keeping land habitable, highlighting that South Holland and The Deepings are entirely flat with drained and reclaimed land from the sea. He stated that attempts to put critical infrastructure such as solar panels and pylons on this land are incompatible due to its propensity to flood.

He expressed concern about the introduction of the concept of the grey belt, which developers use to despoil green belt areas and then apply for planning permission for development. This undermines efforts to protect the green belt.

John Milne highlighted the challenges Horsham faces with water neutrality and criticised the national house building strategy for focusing excessively on planning permission while ignoring other obstacles. He argued that local authorities' negotiating power is undermined by high housing targets set through the standard method, leading to developers prioritising profit over affordable homes and social infrastructure. He noted a paradox of chronic housing shortages alongside 1.5 million unbuilt houses with planning permission, blaming this on a lack of local democracy in approving deficient sites without proper transport or water supply provision.

The new draft NPPF has been welcomed by district councils for its structure, usability and the aim of a streamlined planning system. However, concerns remain about moving away from local decision making and community empowerment due to reduced input of elected councillors in planning decisions. The environment is also a concern with insufficient focus on climate and environmental obligations.