You may know that on 30 July 2024 MHCLG launched a consultation on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This was accompanied by a Written Ministerial Statement which made clear the Government’s goal for universal coverage of ambitious local plans as quickly as possible.
In recognition that local authorities across England will have plans at various stages of development, transitional arrangements have been proposed in the consultation document. The transitional arrangements seek to balance keeping plans progressing to adoption with making sure they provide for sufficient new housing. The proposed transitional arrangements will vary according to the stage the plan has reached within one month of publication of the revised version of the NPPF. A revised version of the NPPF is currently anticipated to be published before the end of the year.
You may also know that Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) recently published the Wokingham Borough Local Plan Update (LPU) 2040 for consultation which closes on 5pm Wednesday 13 November 2024. The LPU is planned to be submitted for examination early in the new year. This is partly to benefit from the proposed transitional arrangements if they are confirmed.
If the LPU does not meet the transitional arrangements proposed to be made WBC will have to revisit its plan, which is likely to include thinking about how the Borough can accommodate 1,308 dwellings per year rather than the currently planned 748 dwellings per year (an almost 80% increase); how the Green Belt is planned for, and where the new ‘Grey Belt’ fits in, amongst other matters.
If WBC manages to progress the LPU whilst benefiting from the proposed transitional arrangements there will remain a requirement to commence plan-making in the new plan-making system at the earliest opportunity to address the more than 200 dwelling shortfall (1,308 – 748 = 560 additional dwellings). It appears therefore that the LPU is a short-term fix with difficult decisions in WBC still lying ahead much sooner than may be anticipated.
Alongside all of this, WBC has been unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and the tilted balance currently applies across the borough. This means that when planning decisions are made lower weight is attributed to development plan policies (including neighbourhood plan policies) to the extent that applicants need only show that any adverse impacts of their proposals are outweighed by their benefits.
With all of this in mind, the possibility of additional development taking place in WBC than currently planned for is far more likely than less likely. So what can local communities do about it?
There are a number of ways in which communities can meaningfully engage with the planning system including making representations on the LPU consultation, which can also include taking part in its examination, making representations on planning applications, preparing a neighbourhood plan/order and/or local design codes, or a combination of the above. ONH is well placed to help your Town and Parish Council in all of these respects as well as helping you decide which combination of these offers the best chance of success.
Contact us for more details.
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