Increase in Housing Approvals at Appeal
Analysis of statistics since 2020 has shown a steady trend toward more appeals being approved than refused for housing schemes. This outlines that the appeal system continues to function positively, bringing forward schemes which should be considered acceptable.
It has been commented that the introduction of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in 2018 and subsequent attempted reforms have slowed down the production of Local Plans. Eighty percent of Local Authorities now have adopted Local Plans, but many of these are now over five years old, and thus the gap in emerging new policy places Councils in a difficult predicament in terms of how to deal with planning applications and a declining housing land supply; local politics can result in proposals being rejected, which is fuelling the rise in planning appeals.
The expected General Election in 2024 and the suggested changes to the NPPF to alter the need to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply where there is a recently adopted Local Plan, may change the dynamics again in the future, but there certainly appears to be a good opportunity to secure residential consent on unallocated land at present.
Aitchison Raffety’s Planning and Development Advisory Team work nationally and have substantial experience in promoting land and securing planning consent for large scale developments, including via Appeal Hearings and Inquiries.
To find out how Aitchison Raffety could assist with your project, please call 01604 880163 or email andrew.gray@argroup.co.uk