Sir,

Neighbourhood Plans undermined by new NPPF

Taking full advantage of news media’s preoccupation with Brexit and the ‘heaywave’, the Government released its ‘Revised NPPF’ together with the related ‘Housing Delivery Test’, on 24 July without public announcement.

Westminster’s reticence is readily explained by the content and ramifications of the new NPPF, the purpose which is to ease the planning process and release more farmland for development having removed or rewritten the rules that developers considered impediments to development and their ability to make profits.

Hence, for example, should a local planning authority lack a five year housing land supply, or where the requirements of the new Housing Delivery Test have not been met, Neighbourhood Plans that are more than two years old will be deemed out-of-date

Communities with out-of-date plans will be rendered vulnerable to developer-imposed development because the NPPF’s presumption in favour of development will apply.

Having in effect been set-up to fail by huge Government-imposed targets, the ability of Councils to pass the Housing Delivery Test and meet five year requirements throughout the life of their local plans cannot be assured.

This is because house-building rates are dependent on the health of the wider economy, which continues to be in doubt and developers will reduce completion rates in order to maintain profit margins and politicians continue to deny councils the means to ensure that developers meet annual house-building targets and five year requirements – and Neighbourhood Plans will be overturned in consequence.

No MP in Sussex has spoken out against this inequitable and harmful-to-communities rule that undermines Neighbourhood Plans. The indifference and acquiescence of our representatives at Westminster is shameful.

Yours faithfully,

Dr R F Smith

Trustee CPRE Sussex