New Government proposed reforms and changes to the NPPF: our initial view

The new UK Government has announced its intention to change parts of the planning system and is asking for people’s feedback on their proposals. The deadline to comment is 24th September 2024 and they aim to put changes in place by the end of this year.  

The proposals cover a broad range of topics but there is a definite focus on sustainable economic growth and more house building as a way to tackle the crises of climate change, nature recovery, housing shortages and the cost of living. Proposed new housing targets would mean more homes, including affordable homes, than is currently the case. 

CPRE Peak District is engaged with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which will dictate the future of the countryside and recalibrate what it is used for. 

What does this mean for planning in the Peak District and South Yorkshire?

CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire broadly welcomes the necessarily bold decisions but the proposals raise key issues locally, which we urgently seek your input in to addressing. 

We also believe that there needs to be detail provided for some of the critical definitions in the proposal e.g. ‘grey belt’.  

At face value the proposed reforms and changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (or NPPF as it is also called), aren’t likely to mean as much change for the Peak District and Sheffield as it might do for their eastern neighbours of Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.  

If the changes happen, then it currently seems likely that Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster will need to refresh their Green Belt reviews and update their local plans to accommodate more development. Sheffield on the other hand would see a lowered requirement for housing but it could still be challenging to meet targets in a planned way. The current Draft Local Plan here in Sheffield is main line with the proposed Government changes. There are no obvious proposals to set a housing target for the Peak District National Park. 

What might this mean for the Green Belts?

Councils will still need to show exceptional circumstances before changing Green Belt boundaries and this would still happen through an updated Local Plan following public consultation and an examination in public, with Councils’ needing to look at other reasonable options first, including maximising the use of brownfield land and upping the density of new developments. 

Should the development of Green Belt be necessary, there is a clear steer for the priority to be land which doesn’t significantly contribute to the Green Belt’s qualities, what the Government are terming ‘grey belt’, all to be in sustainable locations and all to not substantially harm the Green Belt.  

The changes would favour the development of brownfield sites such as the former RAF base at Norton in Sheffield, sites that sit on the edge of urban areas, which are not isolated from essential services, facilities, utilities and public transport and poorly meet the purposes of Green Belt. These types of sites provide an opportunity to provide much needed housing of different tenures in sustainable locations.  

Sustainable development

Some reassurance may be taken that whilst the Government is proposing more development, it appears to be conscious that this is not done at any cost. Councils will still be permitted to say no to more development, including unmet need from neighbouring authorities, where they can show that meeting higher housing targets would not be sustainable. However, for this to work well and to avoid a situation of ad hoc development, local and regional planning departments need to be properly funded and supported. Whilst the Government seems to recognise this to a degree with its intention to increase planning application fees, more support is likely to be needed.  

Whilst much of the proposed changes have the potential to be positive, some aspects worth a closer inspection are; 

• the apparent weakening of controls that prevent severe transport impacts 

• the weakening of controls that currently protect the openness of Green Belt on brownfield land  

• the strengthening of policies that support renewable and low carbon energy, whilst not strengthening the need for new buildings to achieve net zero carbon emissions 

Many Local Plans do not currently have strong enough policies to help achieve net zero, and equally many do not show where renewable energy development would be best situated.  

There is an urgent need for planning efforts to not just focus on housing or economic developments but to find the best choices between the many other sometimes competing land uses in the countryside, and so show a clear vision of a better future where the countryside and natural environment is not only carefully managed as a resource but is also valued for its intrinsic beauty. 

Needless to say, CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire will take a much closer look at the proposed reforms over the next few weeks, talking to local people and will submit a response to Government. The views and opinions of our members and the local community are sought and will be very welcome, so please do get in touch. 

Please email your views and opinions to CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire via mail@cprepdsy.org.uk before 18 September 2024. 

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