Agenda item

This report invites Members to note the Borough Council’s response to the Government’s ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system’ consultation and the potential implications of a revised NPPF on the Borough Council’s plan-making process and timetable, and informs Members of the potential items that were intended to be presented to the Committee at a future meeting.

Members were provided with an update on the Government consultation on proposals to revise the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) intended to achieve sustainable growth in the planning system.

Whilst the consultation principally related to the supply of land to boost housing it also sought views on a series of wider policy proposals related to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.  The consultation also set out how and when it was expected for every Local Planning Authority to create a clear, ambitious local plan for high quality housebuilding and economic growth.

The deadline for responses to be submitted was 24 September 2024 and the Borough Council’s consultation response was set out at Annex 1.  The Cabinet Member for Planning had taken decision D240094MEM on 16 September 2024 to enable the response to be submitted by the consultation deadline.  This decision was the subject of a call-in and would be reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26 September 2024.  In the meantime, the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government had extended the deadline for submissions to be endorsed by Members to 30 September 2024.

A detailed summary of the consultation document, taking into account the revisions made as set out in the draft NPPF, was provided in Annex 2.  The main implications of the proposed revisions to the NPPF were outlined in Annex 3.

Attention was drawn to the headline proposed changes and implications outlined in the report and there was in-depth discussion on the detail set out in Annexes 1 – 5.

Members expressed significant concern at the introduction of a new standard method calculation formula, the uplift in housing need requirements for Tonbridge and Malling from 820 to 1057 dwellings per annum (an increase of 237 dwellings per annum), the 20% buffer that would apply given that the Borough Council did not currently have a 5-year housing supply and the significant cost implications.

Concern was also expressed in respect of green and grey belt proposals, the weakening of the ‘very special circumstances’ requirement to enable development in the green belt, the removal of 10% provision of  affordable housing on major developments, the increased importance of the Duty to Co-operate and implications for the Local Plan timetable and final submission.    In addition, Members welcomed the potential for cost recovery if planning fees were increased.  However, budgetary proposals would come forward once the revised NPPF was published.

Finally, it was reported that Government had committed to publishing a new NPPF by the end of the year and a Local Plan would need to be submitted no later than December 2026.  To date the Borough council had progressed a considerable amount of evidence and as a result of a new NPPF it would be necessary to consider and review the work undertaken to ensure it aligned with the new planning framework. This would include a new call for sites exercise.  A further update on evidence base requirements would be provided at the next meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee, subject to a revised NPPF being published in good time.

Members noted:

·       The Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council response to the Government’s ‘Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the Planning System Consultation’ (attached at Annex 1);

·       The potential implications of a revised NPPF on the Borough Councils plan-making process and timetable; and

·       The items (as set out in 1.7 of the report) to be brought to a future meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee, dependant on the timing of the publication of a revised NPPF.

(A summary of Member comments raised and the responses provided at the meeting was set out in an Annex to the Minutes).