Transition arrangements for Local Plans – see Annex 1

The new housing figures will need to be taken on board in the preparation of the Local Plans and for some Councils these are going to be challenging.  The emphasis is on the preparation of Local Plans and delivery.

Preparing Local Plans – The policies will apply from the date of publication of the NPPF plus one month unless:

  1. The emerging annual housing requirement in a local plan that reaches or has reached Regulation 19 (pre-submission stage) on or before [publication date+ one month] is no more than 200 dwellings below the published relevant Local Housing Need figure;
  2. the local plan is a Part 2 plan that does not introduce new strategic policies setting the housing requirement unless the relevant Local Plan Part 1 has been prepared applying the policies in this version of the Framework;
  3. the local plan is or has been submitted for examination under Regulation 22 on or before [publication date + one month]. Where a, b or c applies, the plan will be examined under the relevant previous version of the Framework. If Local Plans falls into c) and reaches adoption with an annual housing requirement that is more than 200 dwellings lower than the relevant published Local Housing Need Figure – they will be expected to commence a review of the plan to address the shortfall.

After applying the policies of this version of the Framework, local plans that have reached Regulation 19 (pre-submission stage) on or before [publication date + one month] with an emerging annual housing requirement that is more than 200 dwellings lower than the relevant Local Housing Need figure should proceed to examination within a maximum of 18 months from the publication date.

For more information contact Sarah Hamilton-Foyn.