As World Town Planning Day approaches this Saturday new research from planning consultancy Lanpro has revealed widespread scepticism among planning professionals over the government’s ability to deliver on its housing ambitions.
In a survey of Lanpro’s planners, every respondent said the government will fail to meet its target of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, despite the progress of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill through Parliament.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) also reported that securing planning permission has become harder over the past year, citing resource shortages and complex policy requirements.
While the Chancellor has said planning reforms could add £6.8bn to the economy over five years, Lanpro’s findings suggest the benefits may take time to materialise.
LIMITED IMPACT
Respondents pointed to a combination of factors – from a lack of planners in local authorities to slow responses from statutory consultees – that continue to block housing delivery.
Many said that even if planning reforms succeed, they will have limited impact unless local authorities and agencies are properly funded and decision-making is accelerated.
Others called for greater flexibility on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Section 106, and affordable housing obligations to address viability challenges amid high build costs and weak market conditions.
POLITICAL IMPACT
Environmental constraints, including nutrient neutrality and biodiversity net gain requirements, were also seen as key barriers, particularly for small and medium-sized developments.
Lanpro’s planners further warned that political uncertainty – particularly around local government restructuring and new combined authorities – risks slowing decisions as local leaders hesitate to approve major developments ahead of elections or organisational change.
WAKE-UP CALL
Tom Pike (main picture, inset), Director of Planning at Lanpro, says: “The unanimous view that the government won’t meet its 1.5 million homes target should be a wake-up call. Our planners aren’t being defeatist; they’re being realistic based on what they see on the ground every day.
“The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be backed by measures to increase sales rates, including genuine support for first-time buyers, adequate resourcing of LPAs and key consultees, streamlined consultee processes and swifter appreciation of viability considerations.
“Without addressing all of these issues in tandem, legislative reform alone won’t deliver the homes this country so desperately needs.”
