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As the National Planning Policy Framework consultation deadline approaches, a Civic Voice poll reveals doubts among civic leaders about Government’s ability to solve housing crisis through the latest planning reforms.
… The poll highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to housing delivery…
Civic Voice writes:
A recent Civic Voice poll released at the half way point at the National Planning Policy Framework consultation reveals significant scepticism among civic community leaders surrounding the Government’s planning reforms and their potential to ‘get Britain building again’ and deliver 1.5 million homes by 2029. Civic Voice is calling on the Government to take heed of these findings and work closely with local communities and civic societies to refine the planning reforms to ensure they deliver on their promises. In a letter dated 2nd August, the Government acknowledged the vital role that civic societies play, stating, ‘We recognise the important role that civic societies play in promoting the interests of local communities and I would like to assure you that community involvement in place-making is at the heart of the planning system.’ Civic Voice welcomes this recognition and urges the Government to listen closely to the feedback from local communities, ensuring their voices are central to shaping the future of housing and planning policy.
As we reach the halfway point of the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, we believe it is vital that we present the views of our members, who remain unconvinced about the ability of the planning reforms to meet the genuine need to deliver truly affordable homes and social housing. In the same poll, 71% of civic societies selected ‘yes’ when asked whether they agree that we have a housing crisis.So far, 146 civic groups have participated in Civic Voice’s engagement on the proposals, either through roundtable discussions, submitting evidence via email, or through an online survey. These contributions offer a wide range of insights and concerns from communities across the country.
Ian Harvey, Executive Director of Civic Voice, commented: ‘Civic societies welcome a number of the proposed changes in the NPPF, including the NPPF’s encouragement for local authorities to identify and support small sites, the emphasis on healthy places, community-led development, and a move to ‘vision-led’ transport planning rather than ‘predict and provide.’ They also support the scrapping of the arbitrary 35% urban uplift, as well as the requirement for every council to calculate the need for social rented homes. Throughout our discussions, our members are clear that the housing crisis is a critical issue, and that there are no easy answers to this, but there is widespread doubt about whether the Government’s planning reforms are the solution. Without clear clarification on how the funding of affordable housing will be addressed, civic societies cannot see the private sector increasing delivery. While the overall ambition is welcome to support the economic growth of the country, many feel that without addressing key challenges—such as reintroducing regional planning, the lack of skilled construction workers, and the dominance of profit-driven developers—delivering truly affordable homes and rebuilding public trust in the planning system and boosting the wider economy will be difficult to achieve.’
Key Findings from the Poll:
- Overwhelming Scepticism: 72% of respondents believe that the planning reforms will not deliver the 1.5 million homes target by 2029. 23% were unsure, while only 5% believed the target could be achieved under the current reforms. Simply setting targets isn’t enough without ensuring quality and community-led planning.
- Concerns About Economic and Infrastructure Realities: Respondents consistently pointed to a lack of alignment between the reforms and the economic realities, including rising construction costs, under-resourced planning departments, and a critical shortage of skilled workers.
- Uneven Impact Across the Country: 67% of respondents noted that a one-size-fits-all approach is unrealistic, given the diverse housing needs and regional differences across the country. Members want to see more regionalised approaches and a possible regional variations on the NPPF.
Top Concerns Raised by Civic Voice Members:
- Infrastructure First: 81% of respondents emphasised the importance of ensuring that new developments are sustainable and supported by adequate infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and public transport.
- Lack of Resources and Skilled Workers: 78% of respondents highlighted that planning departments are under-resourced and the construction industry is suffering from a critical skills shortage, making it difficult to achieve the ambitious housing target.
- Affordable Housing Crisis: 70% of respondents believe that the reforms place too much reliance on market-driven solutions and called for a stronger focus on delivering social and genuinely affordable housing.
- Developer Profit Motives: 65% of respondents expressed concerns that large developers tend to delay building homes to maintain high prices, raising questions about their commitment to delivering on the Government’s targets. In many cases, developers are sitting on existing planning permissions, citing issues around ‘viability’ and market conditions as reasons for delaying construction.
- Support for Strategic Planning: There is support for a return to more formal strategic planning, with many believing it could help address broader challenges in aligning housing delivery with infrastructure and regional needs.
The poll highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to housing delivery, with greater attention to local needs, sustainability, and the infrastructure required to support new communities. Civic Voice continues to engage with stakeholders across the sector, including the Home Builders Federation, to promote pragmatic and effective solutions to the housing crisis. Civic Voice will also be presenting these findings to key stakeholders, including members of Parliament, housing developers, and community organisations. In the coming months, we will be launching a campaign to encourage further grassroots input into the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
