The Government released the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on the 24^th July 2018. Six years on from the first publication of the NPPF, a tougher test on deliverability and the increased recognition of the contribution of smaller sites may lead to new planning opportunities in rural areas for residential development.

The revised NPPF has put greater pressure on Local Planning Authorities (LPA’s) to demonstrate that they have a five year supply of deliverable housing land. The new definition states that sites with outline planning permission, permission in principle, allocated within the development plan or identified in a brownfield register ‘should only be considered deliverable where there is clear evidence that housing completions will begin on site within 5 years’.

This change will create challenges for LPA’s to find land that can clearly be delivered within the five year period. If they are unable to do so, the overarching principle of sustainable development should take precedence.

LPA’s will also have to identify smaller sites for housing within their Local Plans with at least 10% of their housing requirement on sites of less than one hectare. This could mean that smaller sites in sustainable locations could now be viewed more favourably.

Wilson Fearnall is engaged on a range of residential planning and development related projects and is on hand to advise on the future possibilities that may be brought about by the new NPPF.