Growing number of councils pause local plans over proposed NPPF reform
Isle of Wight Council has become one of at least seven local authorities to have paused the passage of its local plan, citing the Government's consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as the reason why.
The flurry of postponements come as a result of the Government's proposed planning law reforms that suggest making it clearer that the standard method for housing need is an "advisory starting-point" and that councils are not required to review Green Belt boundaries if this would be the only way to meet their housing targets, among other changes.
Commenting on the move last week (17 January), Isle of Wight's Cabinet member for planning and enforcement, Cllr Paul Fuller, said some of the proposed changes could have "significant impacts for the Island, therefore it is imperative that the council fully appreciates what impact these changes may have on the preparation of our local plan".
The island council said it intends to wait for the Government to publish the revised NPPF, scheduled to take place in spring this year, before considering its next steps.
The move follows decisions at South Staffordshire Council, North Somerset Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Teignbridge District Council to pause their local plans in light of the NPPF consultation.
Mole Valley District Council, which had already submitted its draft plan for inspection, has also changed its approach to its local plan in light of the proposed changes.
A council agenda document noted that the council's local plan would "go beyond what will be required to meet development needs under the proposals".
The agenda added that: "In particular, the government proposals set out that the standard methodology, which calculates the number of houses that should be built, is a starting point and is only advisory."
"This has the potential impact that the council could reasonably be seeking a lower housing target based on the most up to date household projections."
If implemented, the modification would see 1,476 fewer homes delivered in Mole Valley's area over the plan period.
Teignbridge District Council was among the first local authorities to delay a decision relating to its local plan when it postponed a meeting in mid-December, following word that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, was set to announce the potential changes.
But the local authority has since adopted its local plan in line with recommendations from officers that warned a delay in adopting its local plan would leave the council relying on older policies and "exposed to applications for 'unallocated' sites".
South Staffordshire Council, North Somerset Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, and Horsham District Council remain paused.
Adam Carey
