New NPPF brings back housing targets to tackle crisis
Reforms aim to deliver 370,000 homes annually and tackle planning challenges
The UK government has announced a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), signalling a significant change in its approach to tackling the housing crisis. Central to this new framework is the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets, aiming to deliver 370,000 new homes each year.
The new rules will also introduce:
- A revised strategy for the green belt, requiring councils to reassess their boundaries to meet housing targets and prioritise development on lower-quality “grey belt” land.
- Stricter standards for green belt development, known as the “golden rules,” mandating developers to provide essential community infrastructure such as nurseries, GP surgeries, transport links, and a higher proportion of social and affordable housing.
- Enhanced focus on social rent, with councils and developers granted greater authority to prioritise and deliver genuinely affordable homes.
To achieve these goals, the government is urging councils to reassess their planning strategies, including reviewing green belt boundaries. A key innovation is the prioritisation of “grey belt” land—areas of lower environmental and scenic quality—to minimise disruption to prime green belt zones. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of clarity surrounding the definition of “grey belt,” with critics arguing it could lead to delays and legal disputes.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the urgency of the reforms, declaring that the government’s mission is to end a generational housing crisis. “We owe it to working families to make home ownership a reality,” he said, underlining plans to deliver 1.5 million homes by the next parliament.
Government commitment and support for councils
To support councils, the government is allocating £100 million to local planning departments, along with additional resources for staff and technical assessments. The plan also mandates that councils update local plans by July 2026 or face intervention.
Housing industry leaders have welcomed the changes but called for further action, including support for first-time buyers and measures to resolve planning backlogs. Neil Jefferson, CEO of the Home Builders Federation, highlighted the need for affordable mortgage access and resolution of regulatory issues like nutrient neutrality.
