News

Turley research informs industry response to NPPF

Research by our Planning and Economics teams has informed an industry call to Government for a revised NPPF methodology on housing need.

In an open letter sent to Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry, business leaders from a cross section of industry state that the Government’s plans will undermine efforts to rebalance the economy through the Northern Powerhouse and lead to fewer homes being built than are needed to support the economy.

Signatories represent organisations including Home Builders Federation, Greater Manchester’s Housing the Powerhouse group, Peel, Barratt, Taylor Wimpey, Jones Homes, Strategic Land Group, Harworth, HIMOR, Gladman and various Chambers of Commerce.

Turley contributed analysis which is cited as evidence by industry leaders. We compared the effects of the proposed standard method for calculating housing need with requirements set out in the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review. Our analysis showed that implementation of the NPPF’s proposed measures would be a backwards step for the housing market and economy of the North of England, and the UK more generally. In order to support the Northern Powerhouse we calculated that Local Plans would need to plan for at least 61,000 homes per year to 2040. This is a significant “step up” from the minimum need implied by the NPPF which is just 46,000 homes per year.

Commenting  on this the industry letter states that “the use of backwards-looking, trend-based projections is fundamentally at odds with the Northern Powerhouse”.

For more on this story please read: ‘Housebuilders unite in call for revised NPPF methodology’ on Place North West.

For further information on our research please contact Antony Pollard.   

16 May 2018