Councils risk missing housing land supply targets
April 2024
Local authorities are required to have a five-year housing supply of deliverable sites for homes. This means they can plan effectively, promote sustainable development and meet housing demands.
In some cases, the Government has allowed councils to reduce this requirement to just four years. However, some authorities are still struggling to hit these targets.
If councils are unable to demonstrate they have the necessary five-year housing supply, then it impacts their housing policies.
In essence this makes it harder for the authority to reject planning applications and tilts the balance in favour of developers, who can provide much-needed housing schemes.
North Somerset Council was found to be unable to demonstrate a sufficient housing land supply. A Planning Inspector ruled in March that the authority could only show “3.2-3.5 years housing supply.”
The council has acknowledged it cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, but is working on a new Local Plan, which will be submitted to the secretary of state later this year.
Similarly East Devon District Council has not challenged a planning appeal decision where the inspector identified the authority’s supply as around 4.68 years. An appeal in Wiltshire also identified that the authority fell short of the five-year benchmark.
These cases provide landowners and developers with opportunities to bring forward sites for development – even where the land might have been rejected previously.
For decision making purposes councils must be able to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply when dealing with applications and appeals. Without this they risk nullifying their existing planning policies.
For expert advice on how to navigate the planning system, whether you are a landowner or developer please contact the experienced team at Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s Development Land and Planning Department. The team works throughout the South West and can provide assistance with all aspects of the planning process.
For more information, please call 01823 334466.
In some cases, the Government has allowed councils to reduce this requirement to just four years. However, some authorities are still struggling to hit these targets.
If councils are unable to demonstrate they have the necessary five-year housing supply, then it impacts their housing policies.
In essence this makes it harder for the authority to reject planning applications and tilts the balance in favour of developers, who can provide much-needed housing schemes.
North Somerset Council was found to be unable to demonstrate a sufficient housing land supply. A Planning Inspector ruled in March that the authority could only show “3.2-3.5 years housing supply.”
The council has acknowledged it cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, but is working on a new Local Plan, which will be submitted to the secretary of state later this year.
Similarly East Devon District Council has not challenged a planning appeal decision where the inspector identified the authority’s supply as around 4.68 years. An appeal in Wiltshire also identified that the authority fell short of the five-year benchmark.
These cases provide landowners and developers with opportunities to bring forward sites for development – even where the land might have been rejected previously.
For decision making purposes councils must be able to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply when dealing with applications and appeals. Without this they risk nullifying their existing planning policies.
For expert advice on how to navigate the planning system, whether you are a landowner or developer please contact the experienced team at Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s Development Land and Planning Department. The team works throughout the South West and can provide assistance with all aspects of the planning process.
For more information, please call 01823 334466.