Grey belt and NPPF changes

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, in a statement to the House of Commons, emphasised that this new approach would strengthen green belt policies, addressing previous issues of unsuitable housing developments lacking local services.

Rayner also confirmed the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets to support the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next five years.

How do we get there?

Housebuilders will be allowed to propose developments on “grey belt” land if local authorities lack up-to-date local plans or fail to meet housing targets, according to the newly updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) launched on July 30. Councils must now review their green belt land, if necessary, to meet their housing targets and identify “grey belt” land. This includes land on the edges of existing settlements or roads, as well as sites like old petrol stations and car parks.

While housebuilders can submit proposals for grey belt developments, land reserved for environmental purposes will remain protected. The new NPPF also introduces green belt reforms requiring that any green belt land released must meet “golden rules”: 50% affordable housing, necessary supporting infrastructure, and increased green space access.

New changes to the NPPF include:

  • Deliver affordable, well-designed homes with new “golden rules” for land released in the Green Belt to ensure it delivers in the public interest
  • Broaden the existing definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved
  • Support clean energy and the environment, including through support for onshore wind and renewables
  • Make more comprehensive changes to ensure that local planning authorities can prioritise the types of affordable homes their communities need on all housing development and that the planning system supports a more diverse housebuilding sector
  • Proposals to increase some planning fees, including for householder applications, so that local planning authorities are properly resourced to support a sustained increase in development and improve performance.