CIH response to the Secretary of State's speech on housing and planning

This morning CIH's director of policy and external affairs James Prestwich attended the Secretary of State's falling back in love with the future speech. James commented on the announcements saying:

“Whilst we are pleased to see today’s publication of the long awaited revised National Planning Policy Framework the measures announced today fall some way short of the action needed to address the national housing crisis. Requiring local authorities to have an up to date plan in place is a step in the right direction, but relaxing national planning targets undermines its impact and will hamper efforts to build the homes, and particularly the homes for social rent, the country desperately needs. Clarity, consistency and support in the system are what is urgently needed. With gaps in skills, capacity, and resources, in planning teams the government needs a plan to support planning teams as enablers to development.

“We urge all political parties to commit to recognising housing as a foundation for creating healthy and sustainable communities and as a central part of national and regional infrastructure planning, matched by proper levels of funding to build the truly affordable housing we urgently need to see.”

To find out more, you can read Michael Gove's full Falling in love with the future speech here.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also available now to download.

We are working on a what you need to know guide on these for our members, which will be available shortly.