Proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) risk undermining the Government’s aim of delivering 300,000 new homes per year and will severely restrict the development of the employment space needed to drive economic growth, according to the British Property Federation (BPF).

In its response to the Government consultation, which closed on 2 March 2023, the BPF argued that the changes to national planning policy ‘actively work against’ Government’s stated ambition of increasing housing delivery and driving levelling up, and describes the potential impact on commercial development as ‘extremely concerning’.

The BPF argues that changes in how local authorities should assess housing need, with councils no longer required to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply pipeline if the Local Plan is less than five years old, will mean there is less urgency in bringing forward residential development.

The BPF also highlights ‘clear contradictions’ between the policy to focus housing delivery in 20 of the UK’s largest town and cities, and the new proposal to water down requirements for local authorities to undertake a green belt review, with most of the urban areas identified for housing growth surrounded by green belt or undeveloped land.