Planning shake-up in England amid bid to build 1.5 million homes

An updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will prioritise previously developed land (also known as brownfield land) to be developed.

Councils will also be ordered to review the boundaries of ‘green belt’ land – higher quality land outside of major cities where development is restricted to limit urban sprawl.

The review will require councils to identify ‘grey belt’ land that is deemed lower quality for construction. The government has previously given the example of car parks and disused petrol stations that currently sit within the green belt.

The announcement came as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set a target for 1.5 million homes to be built in England over the next five year – a goal that many housing experts claim is unachievable.

The government said it would set targets for councils to reach a combined target of 370,000 homes a year and is setting aside £100 million (€121 million) for councils’ planning officers, ang with 300 additional planning officers to speed up decision making.

Building on the green belt will only be allowed if other options have been exhausted and if necessary infrastructure such as nurseries and GP surgeries are prioritised.