Key moves to increase housing supply
January 2025
At the end of 2024, the Government introduced significant changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Standard Method for calculating local housing needs. These changes have the key aim of increasing housing supply to address the housing crisis.
The Standard Method is the formula used by local authorities to calculate their housing needs. It was designed to provide a more consistent and transparent approach to setting housing targets, but the latest revisions to the formula aim to better reflect local economic conditions and housing demand. This revision is expected to increase housing targets in some areas.
Local housing targets, which are set using the Standard Method, are crucial for guiding development in line with national and regional housing goals. With the revised method, many local authorities are going to see their housing targets increase.
Somerset Council has recently published a report which details how the standard method has impacted its housing targets and the implications for its five-year housing land supply. The report assesses the five-year housing land supply based on the former district council areas and is summarised in the table below.
Five-Year Housing Land Supply by Area as a result of the new Standard Method
The Standard Method is the formula used by local authorities to calculate their housing needs. It was designed to provide a more consistent and transparent approach to setting housing targets, but the latest revisions to the formula aim to better reflect local economic conditions and housing demand. This revision is expected to increase housing targets in some areas.
Local housing targets, which are set using the Standard Method, are crucial for guiding development in line with national and regional housing goals. With the revised method, many local authorities are going to see their housing targets increase.
Somerset Council has recently published a report which details how the standard method has impacted its housing targets and the implications for its five-year housing land supply. The report assesses the five-year housing land supply based on the former district council areas and is summarised in the table below.
Five-Year Housing Land Supply by Area as a result of the new Standard Method
|
Combined Five Year Housing Land Supply Calculation |
Previous YHLS |
Current YHLS |
|
Area North (Sedgemoor) |
6.28 |
5.40 |
|
Area East (Mendip) |
3.67 |
2.21 |
|
Area South (South Somerset) |
3.44 |
2.11 |
|
Area West (Taunton Deane) |
6.06 |
4.11 |
|
Area West (West Somerset) |
9.92 |
3.73 |
The new Standard Method has seen an increase in housing targets across the Somerset Council area. As a result, only the former Sedgemoor area has sufficient land available to meet the new targets. The presumption in favour of sustainable development therefore applies in all other areas. This may present an opportunity for landowners and developers to put forward land for housing development.
If you own land which is well related to the built edge of a town or village and you would like to discuss the development potential of your land please call 01823 334466 of email [email protected] to speak with a member of our Development Land and Planning team.
If you own land which is well related to the built edge of a town or village and you would like to discuss the development potential of your land please call 01823 334466 of email [email protected] to speak with a member of our Development Land and Planning team.