DHA Local Plan and Housing Update April 2025

In this article, DHA Planning share their Spring 2025 'South East England and London Local Plan and Housing Update', which is available here. Additionally, you can view this data in our new Local Plan and Housing Update Interactive Map, below.

 

As expected, the Government’s revised NPPF published in December 2024 saw a raft of significant alterations that reversed the previously criticised December 2023 amendments, including the return to a 5 Year Supply, the re-introduction of the mandatory 5% buffer, and a revised calculation of the Standard Methodology. The Government’s pro-development mandate and support for housebuilding has seen a significant uptick in Local Authorities continuing and beginning work to produce new Local Plans.

 

The update covers 7 regions within the South East (including London), includes an easy-to-read explanation on the Plan Making and Monitoring processes, in addition to a summary table showing expected changes within the year.

 

With National Planning Policy reflecting the importance of housing need and supply, this document provides a view of the performance of adopted Local Plans through summarising a Council’s Housing Land Supply position, and Housing Delivery Test result, before giving a view of whether the ‘presumption’ applies. This data is additionally presented in our new interactive map.

 

We trust this provides a helpful insight into Housing Supply and Delivery since the revised NPPF in December 2024. If you have any queries related to the Local Plan Process or the impacts of the revised NPPF please contact DHA’s Greg Filmer, Matt Porter, or David Bedford.

 

*Please Note: Data used within this Update document is correct to 4th April 2025 and is solely based on data, figures, and documents published by the Government and the relevant Local Planning Authorities. We highlight that the Plan Making and Monitoring process is ever evolving and therefore whilst this document provides a convenient high-level reference of whether the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ applies, we would always encourage those viewing the document to confirm the position of an Authority, rather than relying solely on the Update document. Should you have any queries on the document or the position of a Local Authority, please do not hesitate to get in contact with DHA Planning.