Latest news with #NationalPlanningPolicyFramework
Scotsman
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
New home plans surge by a third
New home plans surge by a third New figures provide a promising snapshot of planning activity in England, revealing that new home applications increased by nearly a third between April and June 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. From gorgeous Georgian town houses to jaw-dropping penthouses, converted campervans to bargain boltholes. Take a peek at the finest homes across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The data, from Planning Portal operator TerraQuest, will be welcomed by ministers as they push forward with reforms aimed at delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliamentary term. These figures were revealed in the latest Planning Portal Application Index for Q2 2025, which covers 95% of the planning applications made to local authorities in England. The report shows 69,597 new homes were applied for during Q2, up from 52,282 during the same period a year earlier. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In further good news for the sector, seven out of eight regions saw more new homes applied for in Q2 of 2025 than in Q2 of 2024, with the West Midlands seeing especially strong growth of 71.7%. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, operator of Planning Portal, said: 'There are clear signs of sector recovery, with our data revealing a notable rise in planning activity, contrasting with some of the less positive trends reported further along the development cycle, such as in construction. Because our data captures the very first step in the planning journey - often months before work begins on site - it provides a reliable early indicator of market sentiment. The recent uplift points to growing confidence among developers and housebuilders, likely driven by positive policy signals, including the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently progressing through the House of Lords. 'While the figures don't yet align with the government's target of 1.5 million homes, they do show a clear uptick in the planning pipeline. This growth signals renewed market intent, as the sector lays foundations for increased activity while planning reforms take time to bed in.' Planning and property experts weigh in on the application surge, its reflection in their work, and the impact of recent policy changes:'We're seeing an increase in planning and housing applications, especially in areas where Local Plans are under review or recently withdrawn. The December 2024 updates to the NPPF, including a softer housing delivery test and clearer support for brownfield development, have encouraged more speculative and strategic submissions. Developers also appear to be acting ahead of possible policy tightening in late 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There may also be pent-up demand following a subdued period post-COVID and earlier plan-making uncertainty. The revised NPPF's more flexible approach to the five-year housing land supply has lowered risks for developers, making it more attractive to bring forward sites now. We're noticing more pre-application engagement and design-led discussions, a positive sign of confidence. However, delivery remains patchy, with Build to Rent and strategic land sectors most responsive, particularly in urban extensions and regeneration areas with existing infrastructure. Persistent challenges include delays in signing S106 agreements, nutrient and water neutrality requirements causing local delays, capacity issues within planning authorities slowing determinations, and infrastructure funding gaps limiting readiness. While some issues like nutrient neutrality delays are easing due to new mitigation strategies, new challenges have arisen from mandatory biodiversity net gain requirements and the Building Safety Act/Gateway process — both positive in principle but currently adding uncertainty, longer programmes, and increased costs.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mary-Jane O'Neill, Head of Planning Consultancy (London & South), Planning, Regeneration + Infrastructure, Lambert Smith Hampton 'Whilst new homes are the government's focus, we've seen more than double the enquiry volumes across homeowner products this year - particularly for conversions, extensions, and other improvement works. The shift began tentatively in Q1 and has picked up pace as inflationary pressures ease and interest rate expectations stabilise. 'It's encouraging, but not unexpected. Underlying demand for housing never disappeared, developers and homeowners alike were simply holding off amid uncertainty. What we're seeing now is cautious re-engagement. There are green shoots, although delivery still lags behind. Construction costs remain a key friction point, and planning bottlenecks persist in some local authorities, especially those still grappling with post-COVID staffing challenges. 'Interestingly, we're seeing fewer delays around funding approvals, which is a positive change from this time last year. And there's strong interest in commuter-belt projects, particularly where there's a clear housing need and good transport links. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Second charge mortgage applications for home improvements have more than doubled year-on-year. For many, improving an existing property has become more cost-effective than moving, especially with high house prices and limited stock. A second charge loan allows homeowners to unlock equity without affecting their existing mortgage - and that's proving a smart route for those looking to adapt their homes to suit lifestyle needs. 'If current sentiment holds, we expect steady but measured growth over the next 6–12 months. Confidence is returning.' Tom Carmody, Managing Director, Pure Property Finance, a strategic partner of Planning Portal
Scotsman
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
New home plans surge by a third
New home plans surge by a third New figures provide a promising snapshot of planning activity in England, revealing that new home applications increased by nearly a third between April and June 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. From gorgeous Georgian town houses to jaw-dropping penthouses, converted campervans to bargain boltholes. Take a peek at the finest homes across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The data, from Planning Portal operator TerraQuest, will be welcomed by ministers as they push forward with reforms aimed at delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliamentary term. These figures were revealed in the latest Planning Portal Application Index for Q2 2025, which covers 95% of the planning applications made to local authorities in England. The report shows 69,597 new homes were applied for during Q2, up from 52,282 during the same period a year earlier. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In further good news for the sector, seven out of eight regions saw more new homes applied for in Q2 of 2025 than in Q2 of 2024, with the West Midlands seeing especially strong growth of 71.7%. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, operator of Planning Portal, said: 'There are clear signs of sector recovery, with our data revealing a notable rise in planning activity, contrasting with some of the less positive trends reported further along the development cycle, such as in construction. Because our data captures the very first step in the planning journey - often months before work begins on site - it provides a reliable early indicator of market sentiment. The recent uplift points to growing confidence among developers and housebuilders, likely driven by positive policy signals, including the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently progressing through the House of Lords. 'While the figures don't yet align with the government's target of 1.5 million homes, they do show a clear uptick in the planning pipeline. This growth signals renewed market intent, as the sector lays foundations for increased activity while planning reforms take time to bed in.' Planning and property experts weigh in on the application surge, its reflection in their work, and the impact of recent policy changes:'We're seeing an increase in planning and housing applications, especially in areas where Local Plans are under review or recently withdrawn. The December 2024 updates to the NPPF, including a softer housing delivery test and clearer support for brownfield development, have encouraged more speculative and strategic submissions. Developers also appear to be acting ahead of possible policy tightening in late 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There may also be pent-up demand following a subdued period post-COVID and earlier plan-making uncertainty. The revised NPPF's more flexible approach to the five-year housing land supply has lowered risks for developers, making it more attractive to bring forward sites now. We're noticing more pre-application engagement and design-led discussions, a positive sign of confidence. However, delivery remains patchy, with Build to Rent and strategic land sectors most responsive, particularly in urban extensions and regeneration areas with existing infrastructure. Persistent challenges include delays in signing S106 agreements, nutrient and water neutrality requirements causing local delays, capacity issues within planning authorities slowing determinations, and infrastructure funding gaps limiting readiness. While some issues like nutrient neutrality delays are easing due to new mitigation strategies, new challenges have arisen from mandatory biodiversity net gain requirements and the Building Safety Act/Gateway process — both positive in principle but currently adding uncertainty, longer programmes, and increased costs.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mary-Jane O'Neill, Head of Planning Consultancy (London & South), Planning, Regeneration + Infrastructure, Lambert Smith Hampton 'Whilst new homes are the government's focus, we've seen more than double the enquiry volumes across homeowner products this year - particularly for conversions, extensions, and other improvement works. The shift began tentatively in Q1 and has picked up pace as inflationary pressures ease and interest rate expectations stabilise. 'It's encouraging, but not unexpected. Underlying demand for housing never disappeared, developers and homeowners alike were simply holding off amid uncertainty. What we're seeing now is cautious re-engagement. There are green shoots, although delivery still lags behind. Construction costs remain a key friction point, and planning bottlenecks persist in some local authorities, especially those still grappling with post-COVID staffing challenges. 'Interestingly, we're seeing fewer delays around funding approvals, which is a positive change from this time last year. And there's strong interest in commuter-belt projects, particularly where there's a clear housing need and good transport links. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Second charge mortgage applications for home improvements have more than doubled year-on-year. For many, improving an existing property has become more cost-effective than moving, especially with high house prices and limited stock. A second charge loan allows homeowners to unlock equity without affecting their existing mortgage - and that's proving a smart route for those looking to adapt their homes to suit lifestyle needs. 'If current sentiment holds, we expect steady but measured growth over the next 6–12 months. Confidence is returning.'
Spectator
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
The reign of Rayner
Angela Rayner declined an invitation to a hen do last weekend where the entertainment included axe-throwing. 'She was worried about photos,' says one attendee. The Deputy Prime Minister had to see a family member instead, but a close ally admits: 'She is more careful about attracting that sort of publicity than she used to be.' Robbed as we are of the sight of Rayner waving an axe around when the Prime Minister is suffering his worst weeks in Downing Street, it is tempting to ask, as Metternich didn't quite say of Talleyrand: 'What did she mean by that?' It's a far cry from the days when she screamed that the Tories were 'scum' at a conference party or was filmed raving in Ibiza. For much of Labour's first year in power, Rayner kept her head down and avoided creating a rival power centre. Those in and around Downing Street, however, have realised that the more under the radar Rayner flies, the more seriously they should take her. 'Her commitment to her ambition was demonstrated to the greatest degree possible by the extent to which she did not rock the boat over welfare,' observes a senior Labour figure close to No. 10. In the Commons, Rayner loyally parroted Keir Starmer's lines about changes to personal independence payments. 'No backbencher believed that she believed it, therefore she was able to just take the loyalty points,' the source adds. And yet it was Rayner to whom Starmer was forced to turn when the rebellion spiralled out of control. It was Angela, along with chief whip Alan Campbell – dubbed the 'AA-Team' – who sought to broker a deal with the rebels and who privately made it clear that the government might lose, prompting Downing Street to gut the bill. With the parliamentary Labour party restive, it was Rayner who was dispatched on Monday to address the troops. Many Labour MPs are concluding that if Rayner was once seen as the 'Howling Mad Murdock' of the AA-Team, gobby and with questionable judgment, she has now emerged as the party's John 'Hannibal' Smith, an adept political operator who leaves others wondering what the plan is and when it will come together. Allies say it was her intention, initially, to keep a low profile, keen as she was to answer critics who questioned whether she was clever enough to handle a top cabinet post. 'The goal was to show she could get on with the job and get things done,' one says. So while most of the Starmer administration spent its first three months flailing around in a word soup of missions and milestones, Rayner overhauled the National Planning Policy Framework, to make building easier. Planning applications rose 6 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. Her Planning and Infrastructure Bill is in committee in the Lords next week. That, plus her Renters' Rights Bill and her Employment Rights Bill, are expected to get royal assent in the autumn. Wildly unpopular as the latter is with business, each of these has been pushed through with less strife than expected. Part of her success, Rayner believes, is her ability to connect with people, having been 'a teenage mum'. She told Grazia this week: 'Growing up on an estate, I knew when to be quiet, when to speak and how to bring people round. Anyone who grew up from the same background as I have, you've got higher diplomatic skills than someone highly privileged, because you've never had the power in your hands; you've always had to negotiate and struggle.' Even her enemies acknowledge her people skills. Those drinking on the Commons terrace in early March were stunned to see Rayner on a teasing FaceTime call with Nigel Farage, joshing over which party would win the Runcorn by-election. Reform eventually did so by six votes on 2 May, when Labour haemorrhaged 187 council seats. Plenty of MPs think those are the kind of seats that a more rumbustious leader than Starmer might save from Reform. Farage gets her appeal: 'At least she's real,' he says. 'None of the rest of them are. She is who she is.' It may not be a coincidence that Rayner's favourite karaoke song is 'You to Me Are Everything' by 1970s soul outfit the Real Thing. Rayner is more than a boilerplate leftie. Her political friends include Business Secretary and constituency neighbour Jonathan Reynolds (who watched the election results at her house last year) and Environment Secretary Steve Reed, neither of whom is an ideological soulmate. When Rayner took part in her first Prime Minister's Questions it was Tony Blair she turned to for advice and Wes Streeting who helped with snappy lines. Her confidence at the despatch box, she tells friends, comes from an almost 'out of body experience' where she 'embodies the people I've been sent here to represent'. The New Labour politician with whom she is most often compared is John Prescott, the bruiser trade unionist who was Blair's deputy. Rayner once referred to herself as 'John Prescott in a skirt'. She is now aping his powerbase with a dedicated Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, staffed by 30 officials, a new logo and a Cabinet Office base. The goal of her cross-government work is to 'create sustainable communities' – a phrase lifted from Prezza's mission statement. It would be a mistake, however, to dismiss Rayner as a Prescott tribute act. Her admirers say that she's cleverer than he was and her one-liners tend to be intentional. In addition to bashing Tory wannabes at Prime Minister's Questions, Rayner will deputise for Starmer at this week's Ukraine recovery conference. Prezza was seldom entrusted with foreign affairs. Her real role model may instead be Gordon Brown, with whom Rayner was photographed as a Unison rep in 2007. Rayner has eclipsed Rachel Reeves as the most powerful woman in the government and, as the memo she sent to the Chancellor (suggesting eight tax rises on pensions, dividends and wealth) shows, she is also beginning to throw her weight around. Most importantly, Rayner is Starmer's heir apparent. Even fans of Streeting, considered her main rival, acknowledge that she would be hard to stop if the PM fell, or was pushed, under the proverbial bus. In Nick Parrott, her chief of staff, she has a skilled operator who can keep her on her perch. It is a measure of Rayner's new strength that she has no need of an axe.
Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Planning bill will boost development but not without investment in skills
UK Government action is welcome, but additional pieces of the construction jigsaw must be put in place, writes Richard Whitehead Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The introduction of the UK Government's new Planning & Infrastructure Bill into parliament earlier this year came just days after figures showed British construction output has followed other areas of the economy in slowing down since the turn of the year. The bill itself – part of a broad package of measures designed by Labour to get Britain building and deliver growth through much-needed new infrastructure – aims to halve approval times for new roads, railways, and renewable energy installations to less than two years. The revamped National Planning Policy Framework that complements it will also enforce higher housing targets for local councils and make it easier for them to acquire land to help meet them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is of course only the first reading of the bill, and while the Government in Westminster should be commended for its leadership in attempting to reform a broken system, it will be some time before we begin to see its impact. If central government is serious about seeing meaningful progress within this parliament – and to support the ten-year infrastructure strategy currently in development – then additional pieces of the jigsaw need to be put in place while the bill progresses. Conntractors report that finding suitably skilled staff is a significant challenge (Picture: Chief among them is investment in planning departments to help progress the approval of new schemes at pace. It is no secret that the capacity of local teams has been a major block on development activity. Official statistics from the Scottish Government showed the number of local development applications – smaller applications for changes to homes and developments with up to 50 houses – was the lowest for five years last year. Meanwhile, the average decision time just to set out planning schedules between developers and the planning authority increased again to more than 11 weeks. Ultimately, these are the numbers that reduce confidence among private investors that the projects they are funding will get off the ground. With interest rates falling and funders generally more active than they have been in recent years, now is the opportune time to build that confidence – adding people power to make the most of the reduction in red tape. Of course, that remains easier said than done given the current state of the public purse. With the UK Government's Spending Review due in June, the IFS's view is that Scottish funding will grow annually at around 0.5 per cent in real terms – less than half the speed projected by Holyrood. Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement, and the scale of any cuts implemented, will give a good indication of whether all this will be possible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Outside of planning departments, the other major inhibitor of future developments coming forward at pace is Britain's ability to build them. The Construction Industry Training Board has outlined that around 250,000 extra construction workers will be required by 2028 to meet the development pipeline. Recruitment in the sector is generally fast-moving but almost a third (31 per cent) of contractors report finding suitably skilled staff as their most significant challenge. In particular, there is an issue around older workers retiring and not being replaced, as well as the long-standing void created by the end of Freedom of Movement. Richard Whitehead, chief executive (Europe and India) at global infrastructure leader AECOM The introduction of Skills England and the inception of regional Homebuilding Skills Hubs since last year's general election shows positive intent. Further initiatives like this, part of a complementary skills strategy that includes planning professionals, will be key if we are to get Britain building again.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Housebuilders should face having their plans blocked if they fail to protect live music venues, an MP has suggested. Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that "live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening" as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: "It isn't about venues versus developers. "It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. "In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun." Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans "subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development". A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which "should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result" of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of "operational issues", compared with 42.1% of its members reporting "financial issues". The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. "Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development," Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was "good for venues" and "good for developers and new neighbours". She said the law change could help authorities stop "expensive and often pointless bun fights" when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: "It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line." Dame Caroline said music venues "are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities", and that they had been placed "under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime". The Commons select committee recommended last year that the "agent of change" principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
