The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), released on 24 July 2018, introduces new ways of assessing housing need, scrutinising delivery and supporting development, while continuing to protect the Green Belt.
The most significant change in the document is the introduction of the Housing Delivery Test, according to Barry Davies of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants.
The test will apply from November 2018 and focuses on driving up the numbers of homes delivered in council areas, rather than how many are planned for, with the potential of a penalty for councils that consistently fail to oversee sufficient housing.
These changes to national planning policy will have significant implications for farmers and rural landowners, say land advisers.
