CPRE submits response to consultation on planning system

CPRE has submitted its official response to the consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The response, which was developed in collaboration with our local network of CPREs and affiliate groups, was submitted via the government’s online form. We can now share a version of this consultation response which includes headline responses to each chapter in the consultation questionnaire.

Read our response

From renewables to housing, the new government seeks change, and national planning policy has quickly found itself in the crosshairs to deliver it. While we agree that we need more housing, along with the rapid rollout of clean energy to tackle the climate emergency, as always, the devil is in the detail. The detail, in this case, is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which the government proposes to change.

Overview

Our response answers the wide scope of the government’s consultation and provides a range of recommendations. This includes urging the government to require a mix of housing tenures (including social housing) in large developments, as well as a shift in power towards smaller and medium-sized housebuilders. We’re also calling for a more transparent method of assessing genuine housing need, with a greater role played by local authorities.

We welcome a commitment to brownfield first, but are pushing for all new developments to be directed to previously used land first. We’re calling for strong protections to be maintained for the Green Belt for people and nature, and urging the government to rethink the proposed reclassification of areas of Green Belt as ‘grey belt’. This could lead to degradation and loss of Green Belt land – the countryside next door for millions.

Although we support the introduction of the need for greater social housing (and rented housing) delivery, we’re recommending clear, ambitious and binding targets to make sure that a mix of tenures are delivered inline with local need. We’re also calling for a new definition of affordable in planning policy, so that house prices reflect average local incomes.

We’re urging the government to balance economic sustainability with social and environmental sustainability. This includes in areas such as logistics and freight, as well as transport in general, the emissions from which need to be cut significantly. We think this can be achieved better sited housing (close to transport and facilities) and a greater focus on sustainable travel in planning policy.

Finally, we’re recommending the government unleashes rooftop solar to meet most of our national solar energy targets. A rooftop-first approach, including rooftop solar as standard on new industrial and office buildings – and new homes – can help us get closer to net zero while protecting landscapes. Solar developments on green fields should be exceptional (and should be multi-functional to benefit landscapes and nature).

Read our full response

Above, we’ve summarised some of the key points from our consultation response. However, you can read our full response here. This version (which differs from our official submission), includes headline responses to each chapter to provide more context. You can also find out more about the NPPF in our handy explainer.