On 19th December 2023 Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, unveiled a new set of measures to boost the government's promise to the housing market in a keynote speech made at the head office of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) in London entitled: The Next Stage in Our Long Term Plan for Housing Update.

In the introduction to the statement Gove said:

"This Government is committed to building more homes; more quickly, more beautifully and more sustainably. The best way to deliver is through a reformed planning system. Today we lay out our plan for reform. It is only through up-to-date local plans that local authorities can deliver for communities, protect the land and assets that matter most, and create the conditions for more homes to be delivered. Having plans in place unlocks land for homes, hospitals and GP centres, schools, power grid connections and more – laying foundations for the country’s economic growth and the levelling up of communities for decades to come.

Too many local authorities have no up-to date plan, too many take too long to get their plan in place and too many plans do not deliver as they should. Even when plans are in place, too many local authorities take too long to determine applications, too many reject proposals which are in line with their policies, and officers’ recommendations, and too many fail to ensure a proper pipeline of housing delivery.

Where plans are not in place, or not working effectively, communities are unprotected from speculative development. Houses still get built. But too often in inappropriate locations. Too slowly. And without the right infrastructure or community assets in place.

That serves no-one well. Communities do not have control. Developers do not have certainty. Homes for the next generation do not get built at the rate, or in the locations, we need.

This Government has a coherent, holistic, long-term reform programme to ensure the planning system at last delivers as it should.

Today’s update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) addresses the concerns expressed by local elected representatives about weaknesses in the planning system which led to frustrations about the nature of development. It provides clearer protection for the Green Belt, clarity on how future housing supply should be assessed in plans, certainty on the responsibility of urban authorities to play their full part in meeting housing need and protections for the character of precious neighbourhoods, safeguarding the gentle density of suburbs and ensuring family homes are there for the next generation.

These changes meet the clearly expressed, and wholly understandable, wishes of elected politicians of all parties to deliver for their communities. Taken alongside other changes in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, they entrench the importance of beauty in new development, facilitate the delivery of improved infrastructure, respect the democratic voice of local communities, secure enhancements to our natural environment and deliver quality new neighbourhoods.

With these changes secure, there is now an added responsibility on local government to deliver. The reasons sometimes cited for resisting new development and expediting its delivery have been clearly addressed. So I am setting new expectations for faster delivery, strengthening accountability so poor performers can be better identified, taking further steps to enforce effective delivery of new housing where local authorities have failed most egregiously and putting other, failing, local authorities on notice of my intention to intervene if performance does not improve significantly.

With this higher level of expectation comes additional resource. We need excellent planners, well funded and well supported, to deliver the many more beautiful new homes we need. Planning is a noble profession and its role in making our communities work for every citizen is vital. That work has not always been recognised and respected as it should. So I will provide funds to support and reward planners in local government and dedicate the very best in central government to work with them to deliver.

Our approach to planning is of a piece with the broader approach my department has taken to local government. We have listened sensitively to elected representatives, we have given them more of the powers and freedom they have requested. But with that greater freedom comes greater accountability. Where failure occurs, we intervene more quickly and decisively. Where failure risks compromising the national interest, we intervene more comprehensively. We will provide additional resource to support vital professional leaders on the front line. We will champion their good practice, not least through our new watchdog Oflog, but we will also demand that all aspire to reach the standard of the best.

With both the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the new NPPF now in place, alongside the additional resources for planning departments I am announcing today, our planning reforms will accelerate the delivery of new homes. We are on track to deliver one million homes this Parliament, in line with our manifesto commitment. Our reforms will also strengthen our ability to meet our target of 300,000 additional homes a year. The next generation need those homes built. Future generations need to know the developments we build for them will be beautiful and will endure. And they want the natural environment enhanced to match a better built environment. That is what we will deliver."

The statement then went on to cover the following specific key areas:

• National Planning Policy Framework  
• The Purpose of Planning  
• Local Housing Need 
• Green Belt 
• Character  
• Exporting Housing Need 
• Five-year Housing Land Supply 
• Neighbourhood Plans 
• Community-Led Housing and Self and Custom Build 
• The Role of Beauty 
• Environment and energy
• Wider reforms beyond the NPPF 
• Planning Performance
• Greater Transparency 
• Additional Financial Support  
• Faster Processes 
• Direct Action 

The full transcript of the statment makes interesting reading - especially for those SWIGA Associate Members from our Councils and Local Authorities. It can be accessed via teh link below: