Weekly planning news

Housing sector backs new Section 106 guidance endorsed by Government

Housing sector bodies have backed new national guidance on Section 106 (S106) affordable housing, which has been endorsed by the Government. 

The new voluntary advice, titled ‘National S106 Affordable Housing Engagement Guidance’,¹ has been developed by the National Housing Federation (NHF), Home Builders Federation (HBF), Local Government Association (LGA) and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), with their members. 

Section 106 agreements are used to secure affordable housing and other measures needed to make a development acceptable in planning terms. 

The guidance promotes a shared approach between home builders, local authorities and housing associations to work together to deliver social and affordable homes through early engagement, transparency and collaboration across the Section 106 process. 

It encourages partners to engage earlier in the land, planning and design process, with continued communication through different stages of delivery, including construction, handover and maintenance. 

The guidance also encourages partners to agree clear responsibilities and timescales, follow through on commitments and address issues constructively. It recognises wider challenges that can affect delivery, including the financial position of housing associations and developers and the resources available to local planning authorities. 

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the NHF, said: “We know that S106 is a vital part of affordable housing delivery, providing almost half of all new social and affordable homes, but it’s clear that there’s been a need to improve the system. 

“Our research showed that a truly collaborative approach between housing associations, developers and local authorities was the vital ingredient needed for making this process work.” 

The guidance is voluntary, but the Government is strongly encouraging developers, councils, registered providers and other organisations involved in S106 affordable housing delivery to make full use of it. 

Government announces new protections to tackle ‘cowboy’ builders 

The Government has announced new measures to tackle cowboy builders and give households greater protection when paying for home improvement work. 

From September, a new Government-supported scheme will help people identify and hire trusted traders, while a new payment system will provide greater protection for people’s money during building projects. 

Businesses signing up to the Approved Code will need to meet higher standards for customer service, transparency and dispute resolution. The new payment system will also link payments to key project milestones, with money released as each stage of the work is completed. 

The measures are intended to support reputable builders while helping households make more informed choices when commissioning home improvement work.  

According to the Government², more than one in four UK adults who commissioned home improvements in the past 18 months experienced problems. More than one in three of those affected faced additional costs, losing an average of £750. 

The Government also highlighted figures from the Consumer Detriment Survey 2024³, which found that people lost more than £10.3 billion in 2024 through losses, overpriced costs or unfair practices linked to home and garden maintenance. 

For those planning home improvements, Planning Portal’s Find a professional service⁴ provides access to directories from accredited industry partners, including the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The service can help homeowners find a professional to support their project. 

Further details on the new measures are available on the government website⁵. 

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/section-106-affordable-housing-engagement-guidance
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-steps-in-to-protect-families-from-cowboy-builders-and-aggressive-bailiffs?
3. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e2c07374e40de685195b55/consumer-detriment-survey-2024.pdf?
4. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/find-a-trade-professional
5. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-steps-in-to-protect-families-from-cowboy-builders-and-aggressive-bailiffs?