Local Plan Update

The plan making process can often be complex and keeping track of the status of Local Planning Authority plans, housing land supply statuses and housing delivery test results can be time consuming process.  Accordingly, we are pleased to share our South-East England Local Plan and Housing Delivery Test Update for Spring 2023 - click here to download the document.  

Covering Kent, Sussex and Surrey the document provides an easy to read guide to the current status of emerging plans, including an explanation of the status and opportunity to participate in plan making.  The document groups emerging plans into the evidence gathering, pre-submission and post submission stages explaining the nuances of each part of the process. Those familiar with local plan promotion will be aware that making sites available at the appropriate time is a critical decision, whilst evidence of deliverability and suitability is requiredas plans proceed through the various informal and formal stages of production. The independent examination of the plan then sees matters turn to legal compliance and soundness scrutinised at a very detailed scale.

Turning to performance against existing plans, the importance of housing need and supply is reflected in national planning policy, which requires local authorities to provide a five-year supply of housing land. Where authorities are unable to do so, circumstances radically tilt decision making in favour of the grant of permission.  The document therefore provides a headline summary of the Council’s latest housing land supply position, based either on the latest LPA update or relevant Inspector’s appeal decision.

Finally, introduced in 2018 the Housing Delivery Test is annually updated measurement of past housing delivery with varying consequences for failure to meet targets.  Within the report we outline the latest published results and the consequences for the respective authorities.

We hope that this document provides useful insight.  Look out for updates during the course of the year