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Planning System and Housing Delivery Reform

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is reforming the planning system to accelerate housing delivery through the Planning and Infrastructure Act, which introduces the Nature Restoration Levy and streamlines developer obligations. Multiple bills address local authority housing, affordable housing, and listed building protections, with recent focus on London housing emergency measures and Section 106 delivery.

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2026

9 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his department has made an assessment of future local planning timetables and how they align with national housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his department has made an assessment of future local planning timetables and how they align with national housing objectives.

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the level of proposed development on Green Belt land in the Epping Forest District, a

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the level of proposed development on Green Belt land in the Epping Forest District, and what steps his Department is taking …

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to finalise infrastructure agreements for residential plannin

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to finalise infrastructure agreements for residential planning permissions.

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether any other ass

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether any other assessment has been made of affordable housing starts in …

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether affordable ho

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether affordable housing starts in London are tracked from start on site …

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department's press release of 22 March 2026 entitled Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuild

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department's press release of 22 March 2026 entitled Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuilding push, whether the (a) chair of the National Housing

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115420 on Affordable Housing: Housing Starts, what assessment his Depart

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115420 on Affordable Housing: Housing Starts, what assessment his Department has made of the number of (a) affordable …

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20 Apr 2026 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee. For its part, Sport England needs to redouble its efforts to turn its responses around swiftly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52)

We recommend that the Government retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee. For its part, Sport England needs to redouble its efforts to turn its responses around swiftly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) Type: recommendation | Number: 17 | Response status: …

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25 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

The Planning and Infrastructure Act is a wide-ranging reform of the planning system, intended to accelerate housing delivery and remove barriers to infrastructure development across England. The Act introduces the Nature Restoration Levy, a mechanism which allows developers pay into to the Nature Restoration Fund to discharge their environmental obligations when building, housing and infrastructure developments affect protected sites or species.70 This is an optional fund: developers can choo...

The Planning and Infrastructure Act is a wide-ranging reform of the planning system, intended to accelerate housing delivery and remove barriers to infrastructure development across England. The Act introduces the Nature Restoration Levy, a mechanism which allows developers pay into …

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2025

12 events
16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

Improved data sharing is a fundamental enabler of efficient and effective cross-organisational work to deliver sustainable housing. While there is evidence of cross-departmental working between DEFRA and MHCLG on planning, nature and housebuilding, the evidence we have taken suggests that existing data platforms are still siloed within organisations. This inhibits the sharing of geospatial and ecological data which could improve decision making relating to environmental and housing building t...

Improved data sharing is a fundamental enabler of efficient and effective cross-organisational work to deliver sustainable housing. While there is evidence of cross-departmental working between DEFRA and MHCLG on planning, nature and housebuilding, the evidence we have taken suggests that …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

There is scope to reform the current system of developer contributions in England to capture a greater proportion of land value uplifts from development to deliver affordable housing and public infrastructure. There is a compelling case for such reforms—especially in the context of a deepening housing crisis and with public finances currently under strain. However, a radical departure from the Section 106/Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) regime, which currently constitute the existing mech...

There is scope to reform the current system of developer contributions in England to capture a greater proportion of land value uplifts from development to deliver affordable housing and public infrastructure. There is a compelling case for such reforms—especially in …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

As part of the site thresholds consultation that will take place later this year, the Ministry must seek views on how standardised Section 106 templates could most effectively streamline the negotiation process across sites of all sizes. Based on the consultation responses, the Ministry must work with the Planning Advisory Service to develop a suite of Section 106 template clauses and publish these within six months of the consultation closing. Alongside their publication, the Ministry must a...

As part of the site thresholds consultation that will take place later this year, the Ministry must seek views on how standardised Section 106 templates could most effectively streamline the negotiation process across sites of all sizes. Based on the …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government must take a more strategic approach to boost the skills and capacity of local planning authorities, starting with reinstating access to funded Level 7 planning apprenticeships for students over the age of 21. The Government must invest in dedicated planning officers for Strategic Authorities and set out its plans for doing so in response to this Report. Each Strategic Authority planning team should include specialist planning skills units to support local authorities, to allow ...

The Government must take a more strategic approach to boost the skills and capacity of local planning authorities, starting with reinstating access to funded Level 7 planning apprenticeships for students over the age of 21. The Government must invest in …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

Local planning authorities across England have expressed concern that protracted Section 106 negotiations are causing delays to housing delivery. Drawn out negotiations do not benefit public outcomes and cause undue delays to development, which may impede the Government’s housebuilding ambitions. Whilst we recognise the Minister for Housing and Planning’s concerns that introducing a dispute resolution scheme may add complexity to the system, we believe the potential benefits to affordable hou...

Local planning authorities across England have expressed concern that protracted Section 106 negotiations are causing delays to housing delivery. Drawn out negotiations do not benefit public outcomes and cause undue delays to development, which may impede the Government’s housebuilding ambitions. …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

The Ministry must publish an interactive map of CIL coverage on its website, updated quarterly to include the rates charged in each local authority in England. Publishing a national map would support the housing sector to navigate different charging schedules across local authorities; would enable greater public scrutiny of the variations between local planning 64 authorities; and would allow the Government to demonstrate how any future reforms to CIL are improving coverage and infrastructure...

The Ministry must publish an interactive map of CIL coverage on its website, updated quarterly to include the rates charged in each local authority in England. Publishing a national map would support the housing sector to navigate different charging schedules …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

Currently, stretched local planning authorities are likely to focus their limited staffing and resources on affordable housing delivery as a priority, rather than establishing and administering CIL, even where CIL may be financially viable. The reintroduction of strategic planning in England presents an opportunity for greater co-operation between local authorities, including by pooling CIL receipts to deliver larger infrastructure projects. This collaboration may also encourage more local au...

Currently, stretched local planning authorities are likely to focus their limited staffing and resources on affordable housing delivery as a priority, rather than establishing and administering CIL, even where CIL may be financially viable. The reintroduction of strategic planning in …

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28 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government can only begin to make significant progress towards its 1.5 million target once the sum of local housing need targets in Local Plans add up to that figure. Whilst the Government’s reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework seek to plan for approximately 370,000 new homes per year, local authorities will take several years to transition to this national annual target, as the currently Local Plans take seven years to produce and adopt on average. The Government has stated ...

The Government can only begin to make significant progress towards its 1.5 million target once the sum of local housing need targets in Local Plans add up to that figure. Whilst the Government’s reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework …

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17 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

As at February 2025, while 65% of local authorities had a local plan more than five years old, around 7% did not have an adopted local plan at all, and it can take up to seven years to publish one.17 The risks associated with not having an adopted, up-to-date local plan include not delivering the new homes in the right location to meet local demand, and being unable to coordinate the appropriate amount of developer contributions.18

As at February 2025, while 65% of local authorities had a local plan more than five years old, around 7% did not have an adopted local plan at all, and it can take up to seven years to publish one.17 …

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17 Oct 2025 | Written evidence linked

There is an imbalance in capacity and capability between the public and private sector. Larger developers are generally better resourced with people who have specialist skills for negotiation.25 In its written evidence, the Chartered Institute of Housing expressed concern that local planning departments across England had faced significant reductions in staffing levels, with reduced capacity causing delays in planning approvals and loss of skills.26 A recent report by the Department found tha...

There is an imbalance in capacity and capability between the public and private sector. Larger developers are generally better resourced with people who have specialist skills for negotiation.25 In its written evidence, the Chartered Institute of Housing expressed concern that …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

We pressed MHCLG on the main barriers to increasing housing supply. It replied that one of the key issues is viability of sites, and that it is engaging actively with local government on the use of Section 106 money (funding that local authorities receive from developers, to pay for community and social infrastructure projects) to develop sites. It also explained that there is a need to improve planning policy and raise the percentage of the new 42 Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: As...

We pressed MHCLG on the main barriers to increasing housing supply. It replied that one of the key issues is viability of sites, and that it is engaging actively with local government on the use of Section 106 money (funding …

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24 Jan 2025 | Committee report linked

MHCLG explained that it is committed to producing a long-term housing strategy early in 2025 that will focus on both supply and quality. It suggested that the strategy would set out a range of actions across the supply chain, on issues such as: skills; planning; working with developers; breaking down barriers to development; building up the role of SMEs; reforms to social housing; the new towns taskforce; building up the capacity of local planning authorities to work through cases faster; and...

MHCLG explained that it is committed to producing a long-term housing strategy early in 2025 that will focus on both supply and quality. It suggested that the strategy would set out a range of actions across the supply chain, on …

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2023

6 events
14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

We support the principle of a plan-led system and are sympathetic to the Government’s wish to ensure more local authorities have up-to-date local plans. However, it is difficult to see how the Government will achieve its 300,000 net national housing target by the mid-2020s if local targets are only advisory. The Government has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate how the policy of removing mandatory local housing targets will directly lead to more housebuilding.

We support the principle of a plan-led system and are sympathetic to the Government’s wish to ensure more local authorities have up-to-date local plans. However, it is difficult to see how the Government will achieve its 300,000 net national housing …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

We are sceptical of the Minister for Housing and Planning’s confidence that greater local plan coverage will result in more housebuilding. If there is no longer a requirement for up-to-date local plans to continually demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and if housing targets in local plans are to be made advisory, then it does not necessarily follow that more local plan coverage will result in the same increases in housebuilding as under the current NPPF.

We are sceptical of the Minister for Housing and Planning’s confidence that greater local plan coverage will result in more housebuilding. If there is no longer a requirement for up-to-date local plans to continually demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

In order to aid transparency and accountability for housing delivery, the Department must set and commit to annual housing targets that are in line with the Government’s commitment to deliver 300,000 net new homes per year by the mid-2020s and how this will be achieved.

In order to aid transparency and accountability for housing delivery, the Department must set and commit to annual housing targets that are in line with the Government’s commitment to deliver 300,000 net new homes per year by the mid-2020s and …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

We reiterate our previous recommendation from our report on the future of the planning system in England (2021) that the Government should set out the proportions of different types of tenure that will make up the 300,000 net new homes per year, in order to encourage local planning authorities to give greater importance in planning for Social Rent homes. We believe that this should include a national housing target for 90,000 Social Rent homes per year.

We reiterate our previous recommendation from our report on the future of the planning system in England (2021) that the Government should set out the proportions of different types of tenure that will make up the 300,000 net new homes …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The need for the urban uplift demonstrates that the standard method formula is not currently fit for purpose. The 35% urban uplift is an arbitrary figure, which is not calculated based on local housing need in the areas where it applies. We are disappointed that the Government has not yet published its evidence base for the urban uplift.

The need for the urban uplift demonstrates that the standard method formula is not currently fit for purpose. The 35% urban uplift is an arbitrary figure, which is not calculated based on local housing need in the areas where it …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government should abolish the urban uplift when it reviews the standard method in 2024. Instead, a single standard method formula that accounts for local housing need and capacity should apply to all local authorities. The revised formula should be based on future local need, with a focus on regenerating local areas and delivering 38 Reforms to national planning policy more affordable housing, rather than focussing housebuilding in areas where economic activity is already high. The standa...

The Government should abolish the urban uplift when it reviews the standard method in 2024. Instead, a single standard method formula that accounts for local housing need and capacity should apply to all local authorities. The revised formula should be …

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2022

1 event
31 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

If any reform is to take place it must address all of these issues, otherwise it is likely only to be another short term and partial measure. For a reform of the governance systems to successfully be implemented and invested in, a vision of where England will end up needs to be clearly articulated, on a cross-party basis and at all levels, to get sufficient political acceptance from the people necessary for its implementation to guarantee long-term delivery. (Paragraph 95) The Levelling Up Wh...

If any reform is to take place it must address all of these issues, otherwise it is likely only to be another short term and partial measure. For a reform of the governance systems to successfully be implemented and invested …

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2021

5 events
10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We think the Government’s abandonment of its proposed formula for determining housing need is the correct decision. There remains a need for additional information about how the Government’s revised approach, announced in December 2020, might work in practice. This is especially important given the proposed urban uplift for 20 urban centres The Government should: • Provide an explanation of what criteria were used by the Government to both identify the 20 urban centres being subject to the up...

We think the Government’s abandonment of its proposed formula for determining housing need is the correct decision. There remains a need for additional information about how the Government’s revised approach, announced in December 2020, might work in practice. This is …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

It is our view is that the pace of completing planning permissions is too slow, and that carrots and sticks are needed to quicken the pace. The Government should produce a strategy for increasing the extent of multi-tenure construction on large sites in line with the Letwin Review’s recommendations. It should explore the greater use of Development Corporations that are transparent and accountable, alongside incentivising the use of smaller sites and SME builders. We also recommend introducing...

It is our view is that the pace of completing planning permissions is too slow, and that carrots and sticks are needed to quicken the pace. The Government should produce a strategy for increasing the extent of multi-tenure construction on …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government must clarify how it will replicate the binding nature of Section 106 agreements and which parts of the approach will be retained. If they cannot be easily replicated, especially without creating additional complexity, then we recommend retaining Section 106 agreements. (Paragraph 161) 106 The future of the planning system in England

The Government must clarify how it will replicate the binding nature of Section 106 agreements and which parts of the approach will be retained. If they cannot be easily replicated, especially without creating additional complexity, then we recommend retaining Section …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

There is a case for reforming the Community Infrastructure Levy, but it is less clear that Section 106 agreements needed replacing. The Government should be mindful of the cumulative effect of the challenges posed to affordable housing provision by the proposed abolition of Section 106, the raising of the threshold for small sites exempt from affordable housing, and the expansion of permitted development rights. We also welcome the Government’s decision in April 2021 not to proceed with a hig...

There is a case for reforming the Community Infrastructure Levy, but it is less clear that Section 106 agreements needed replacing. The Government should be mindful of the cumulative effect of the challenges posed to affordable housing provision by the …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government’s reforms require an increase in planning staff, especially those with specific specialist skills, such as design. These skills gaps will need to be filled if the planning system is to be improved. The Government must undertake and publish a resources and skills strategy in advance of primarily legislation, to clearly explain how the various skill needs of the planning system will be met. (Paragraph 186) Design and beauty

The Government’s reforms require an increase in planning staff, especially those with specific specialist skills, such as design. These skills gaps will need to be filled if the planning system is to be improved. The Government must undertake and publish …

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2020

3 events
9 Dec 2020 | Committee report linked

The Department explained how its reforms to the planning system were intended to speed up building and, through increasing certainty with the system, encourage more small and medium-sized developers to build homes. It told us that it was also looking to encourage a greater range and variety of homes on large sites, which it believed will encourage build out.31 It explained that it was seeking views on how it could further encourage build out and reduce the practice of developers buying land, ...

The Department explained how its reforms to the planning system were intended to speed up building and, through increasing certainty with the system, encourage more small and medium-sized developers to build homes. It told us that it was also looking …

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9 Dec 2020 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department how it would ensure that its approach delivered the right kind of homes in the right places.44 We heard from the Department about a range of other actions it is pursuing: • It wants its planning reforms to encourage more small and medium-sized developers to be building homes.45 • It will promote more zero-carbon homes through the Future Homes Standard.46 • It is reviewing the release of public sector land for building.47 • It is considering its response to the recent c...

We asked the Department how it would ensure that its approach delivered the right kind of homes in the right places.44 We heard from the Department about a range of other actions it is pursuing: • It wants its planning …

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27 Jul 2020 | Committee report linked

We are mindful that the Government expects to implement substantial changes to the planning system in the near future. We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on social housing supply, as well as scrutinising the reforms more generally. (Paragraph 110) Right to Buy

We are mindful that the Government expects to implement substantial changes to the planning system in the near future. We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on social housing supply, as well as scrutinising the reforms more …

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