Letter from the deputy prime minister to housing stakeholders published

The government has published a letter from deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to housing industry stakeholders, following the government’s consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was launched in July 2024. In December, the government published its response to this consultation alongside an updated National Planning Policy Framework. The following day, 13th December, the deputy prime minster sent this letter.

The letter outlines the changes made to the NPPF to housing industry stakeholders, following the consultation launched within a month of gaining office. The government has put into place a new standard method for assessing housing needs, overhauling the previous one. Ms Rayner outlines that the annual national target for housebuilding has increased from 300,000 to 370,000, as well as getting rid of the arbitrary ‘urban uplift’ which disproportionately focused on London. The new method now better reflects differing housing pressures across the country, and further increasing housing numbers in areas where house prices are most removed from local incomes.

Additionally, the letter outlines changes to the land policies where houses are to be built on. The deputy prime minister writes that: “We have been clear that developers should first look to brownfield land, wand have made changes to promote this ahead of further reforms on the back of our brownfield passport working paper”, as well as formulating a modernised Green Belt policy. It will require local authorities to use the local plan process to first consider brownfield land, then grey belt, and only if these are unsuitable or unavailable to use Green Belt land. Housing can only be built on Green Belt land if developers deliver affordable housing, appropriate local infrastructure, and accessible public green space.

The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP further states that: “The plan-led approach is, and must remain, the cornerstone of the planning system. We understand the need to balance keeping plans progressing with making sure they plan for sufficient housing.

“We ware proposing a transitional approach that will allow the local plans that have reached examination to continue, along with those who have made it to the final stage of the plan-making process (Regulation 19), so long as they provide for at least 80 per cent of the new housing need figure.”

Other changes brought forward include security high quality development, ensuring houses are more in line with local wages, delivering community needs through supporting the provision of public infrastructure, adjusting the NPPF to support climate change mitigation and adaption through increased renewable deployment, as well as setting aside over £14 million investment to provide grant funding support, which will allow local authorities to be able to implement these policy changes correctly and thoroughly.

The deputy prime minister ends her letter to housing industry stakeholders thus: “I would like to thank you for your continued engagement with the government as we deliver our hugely ambitious goal of delivering 1.5 million new homes this parliament, and the infrastructure needed to grow our economy and support public services. You play a key role in delivering our Plan for change and I look forward to continuing to work together to deliver for our country.”