Government ready to make ‘full use’ of intervention powers on planning decisions

A parliamentary committee was told by planning minister Matthew Pennycok that government intend to ‘make full use’ of powers to intervene in planning decisions, and may look to review intervention criteria.

As reported by Planning Resource¹, Pennycock’s comments came following a question from Conservative MP for Broxbourne - who asked if ‘lots of planning applications’ that have been recommended for refusal will now be called in.

The committee follows controversy around a recent intervention by the Labour government on a decision in Swale Borough Council over two planning applications for an 8,400-home garden village, which has sparked debate about the balance between local decision-making and central government intervention in shaping development.

Housing minister says delivering 1.5 million homes will be ‘more difficult’ than expected and revels a potential review of greybelt ‘golden rules’

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has admitted that delivering the government’s target of 1.5 million homes within this parliamentary term will be more difficult than ‘expected’, with projections suggesting fewer than 200,000 new homes will be built this year, according to an article published in Planning Resource on 22 November.²

During the same session, of the of the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee, Pennycook also shed light on government intentions to review its criteria for grey belt release. Since its inception, the release of previously used greenbelt land under the fledgling grey belt categorisation, has been accompanied by a set of metrics to guarantee release is always appropriate and necessary – a set of criteria dubbed by labour as their ‘golden rules’.

These rules suggested that grey belt release be subject to regulations such as a ‘brownfield first’ approach, inclusion of 50% affordable housing and improvements for local or national infrastructure. This framework was further fleshed out in NPPF consultation in July, which also proposed measures like benchmark land values (BLVs) to ensure developers meet outlined contributions.

However, during the session Pennycook suggested these measures might need adjustment, particularly the BLVs. He stated, “We are looking carefully at whether those golden rules are right, in particular benchmark land value, whether that would operate in the way we want.”

You can find more information by visiting Planning Resource.³

Government has ‘historic opportunity’ to integrate net zero

Lord Ravensdale recently highlighted the government have an ‘historic opportunity’ to embed net zero into the UK planning system during the current Parliamentary term. Speaking at a parliamentary reception on 19 November, he stressed that the industry needs to significantly adapt to achieve this goal, with a focus on building homes to high environmental standards.

In 2023, Ravensdale proposed an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act to establish a duty to integrate net zero into the planning system. Although the amendment was not passed, it led to a "compromise amendment" that incorporated climate mitigation and adaptation into national development policies.

Ravensdale pointed to the government's support for these efforts, noting that ministers from the last Parliament are now in place and ready to help drive change. However, he also expressed concern that local authorities are often hindered by the current planning system when it comes to delivering sustainable, net-zero homes.

A Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) issued in December 2023 directs local authorities to follow the same energy efficiency metrics as building regulations, rather than striving for more ambitious standards. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has identified this WMS as a barrier, noting it causes "confusion and delays" in adopting local net-zero policies.

Rights Community Action (RCA) is advocating for the WMS to be overturned, arguing it limits local authorities' ability to set stricter net-zero building standards. Naomi Luhde-Thompson, RCA’s chief executive, called for a revision of the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure homes are built to withstand the climate challenge.

As the UK strives to decarbonize its housing stock and meet its 2050 net-zero goal, the push for higher energy efficiency standards and a more sustainable planning framework remains a central issue for policymakers and industry leaders alike.

1. https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1897132/pennycook-pledges-full-use-powers-intervene-applications-may-change-intervention-criteria
2. https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1897337/government-looking-carefully-whether-its-golden-rules-green-belt-release-are-right-pennycook-reveals
3. https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1897337/government-looking-carefully-whether-its-golden-rules-green-belt-release-are-right-pennycook-reveals