Housing Delivery Test

The NPPF explains that it is the Government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes across the country. With this in mind, the Government has introduced the Housing Delivery Test in which to monitor local councils and their housing delivery rates measured against their cumulative housing requirement over the past three years.

If a local council fails to delivery the required housing, there are actions that will need to be met. Such actions will depend in the degree of failure, notably:

• Where supply against the number of homes required falls below 95%, the preparation of an Action Plan will be required;

• A 20% buffer will be added to the 5-year housing land supply where housing deliver is at least 85% of the number of homes required.

• In the more pressing of circumstances, local councils will be subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development. This is currently set at 45% of the required housing delivery, but this percentage will increase to 75% from November 2020 onwards.

The Government has published the ‘Housing Delivery Test Rule Book’ alongside revisions to policy and guidance to provide guidance on how the Housing Delivery Test will be calculated and monitored.

The Housing Delivery Test will impact the decision-making in some local authorities. We have listed some examples of local planning authority areas we have worked in recently that have been identified in 2019 results as requiring housing delivery action.

• Basildon Borough Council – Presumption in favour of sustainable development

• Braintree District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Canterbury City Council – Action Plan required

• East Cambs District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• East Herts District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Epping Forest District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• London Borough of Havering – Presumption in favour of sustainable development

• Ipswich Borough Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Mole Valley District Council – Action Plan required

• North Hertfordshire District Council – Presumption in favour of sustainable development

• London Borough of Redbridge – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Rochford District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Rother District Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Southend-on-Sea Borough Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• St Edmundsbury District Council (West Suffolk Council) – Action Plan required

• Thanet District Council – Presumption in favour of sustainable development

• Thurrock Borough Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

• Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council – 20% buffer to be added to the 5-year land supply

A D P has experience in providing detailed housing land supply evidence. Using this expertise, we can help to advise you of your development opportunities in the short, medium and the long term. Please contact us at mail@adpltd.com or use the form below to discuss further.