Following a request from Housing Minister Grant Shapps, the group was established as a unique collaboration between local government and house builders to help address the current chronic housing crisis.
With the reduction in central planning guidance and the forthcoming abolition of regional housing targets, the role of local authorities in planning for new homes becomes even more critical and the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) poses a challenge for them to develop Local Plans which are both sustainable and viable.
The publication of the reports reflect a strong measure of consensus around two extremely complex issues by consolidating the views of an exceptionally broad and diverse range of interested parties including; home builders, local government, industry professions, consultants and regulators.
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The Group's report, Viability Testing Local Plans - Advice for planning practitioners is a resource for local authorities to help ensure their local plans are viable and deliverable. It provides practical, step-by-step advice for planning practitioners on how their local plans can effectively address the viability of residential land in their area.
The advice has been welcomed by the Planning Inspectorate as an approach which will help enable local authorities to meet their obligations under the NPPF when their plans are examined. It will also help house builders preparing applications to understand the process.
The Home Builders Federation and the Local Government Association, two key partners in the initiative, have made a commitment to engage with their members in applying the advice and ensuring that it develops effectively over time.
On the second issue of local standards, the Group has produced an interim report: A Review of Local Standards for the Delivery of New Homes. It concludes that there is significant scope for simplification of the standards regime and recommends an urgent Government-backed review and consolidation of existing local housing standards to ensure they meet the aspirations of local communities without undermining viability.
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