Is the current standard for evaluating a development's sustainability becoming obsolete?
In the face of a growing housing crisis, the UK government is rethinking its approach to residential development, particularly in rural areas. The focus is on more adaptable planning frameworks and support for smaller rural settlements, with a goal to alleviate housing pressures while preserving rural community life and function.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), first published in 2012, aims to secure sustainable new development. It consists of three interdependent objectives: economic, social, and environmental. Significant development, however, lacks a clear definition within the NPPF.
Recently, there has been a call for increased flexibility in the planning system to better accommodate the unique locational and social dynamics of rural areas. This shift is aimed at promoting sustainable housing development in these regions.
Reports and advocacy groups are urging for immediate action to enable affordable, sustainable rural housing. They highlight the long waiting lists and significant increases in rural homelessness. The emphasis is on housing that not only supports local jobs and economies but also maintains social cohesion within rural communities.
The government has announced multi-billion-pound programs focused on social and affordable homes. These initiatives aim to modernize and speed up local planning approvals, including in rural areas, to help applications that comply with local development plans get approved faster.
There is also a strategic push towards neighbourhood-level regeneration and investment in social infrastructure in rural and disadvantaged areas. This aligns with creating sustainable housing developments in rural settlements, aiming to build resilience and sustainability in communities.
In practical terms, this means considering alternative sources of new housing supply, such as new towns and large urban extensions, due to their long gestation period. It also means rethinking the traditional approach to rural development, with a focus on developing housing that meets the needs of specific settlements and helps address deficiencies in existing services provided at that settlement.
The position many local authorities find themselves in, regarding out-of-date local plans, may necessitate the consideration of these alternative sources of new housing supply. This is particularly relevant in light of the national importance in delivering new housing and the position many authorities find themselves in regarding their local plans.
In some cases, the accessibility and location of new development are not the only factors considered by decision-makers in planning. For instance, an inspector's view in an appeal decision for a new development on the edge of a village was that some development may need to take place in areas less accessible by public transport due to the housing crisis. In this specific case, planning permission was granted for the development despite some degree of harm due to the location of development, because the substantial benefits associated with this particular scheme outweighed this (and other identified harm).
The general approach for judging sustainability in rural areas is not a 'one size fits all' approach, according to appeal decisions. Each case is considered on its merits, taking into account the specific needs of the settlement and the benefits that the development can bring.
The housing crisis in the country is recognized by all major political parties, making it a priority for policy discussions and action. The case for proportionate growth of smaller settlements has never been stronger in light of NPPF guidance, the national importance in delivering new housing, and the position many authorities find themselves in regarding their local plans.
In conclusion, the UK's policy on residential development in rural areas is evolving to better address the housing crisis while preserving rural community life and function. This involves a shift towards more adaptable planning frameworks, support for smaller rural settlements, and a focus on sustainable housing development that meets the needs of specific settlements and helps address deficiencies in existing services provided at that settlement.
- In response to the call for sustainable housing development in rural areas, the UK government is announcing multi-billion-pound programs focused on social and affordable homes, which aim to modernize local planning approvals, including in rural areas, to speed up the process for applications that comply with local development plans.
- The government is also pushing for neighbourhood-level regeneration and investment in social infrastructure in rural and disadvantaged areas, aligning with the goal of building resilient and sustainable communities.
- To address the unique locational and social dynamics of rural areas, there is a need for increased flexibility in the planning system, as advocated by reports and advocacy groups, aiming to alleviate long waiting lists and significant increases in rural homelessness.
- For environmental sustainability, the government is encouraging alternative sources of new housing supply, such as new towns and large urban extensions, due to their long gestation period, in addition to rethinking the traditional approach to rural development that focuses on meeting the needs of specific settlements and addressing deficiencies in existing services provided at that settlement.
- The strategic focus on regeneration, investing in social infrastructure, and promoting sustainable housing developments in rural areas is part of a broader policy shift aimed at securing sustainable new development, as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which includes economic, social, and environmental objectives.
