Breckland Council criticises Labour's housing target uplift

The Labour government's revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes hiked housing targets for local authorities across the country. 

The proposals have been met with criticism at Conservative-run Breckland Council, which faces an uplift of around 50pc - with a requirement to see more than 900 new homes built each year across the district. 

While the revised framework remains under consultation the council has slammed the brakes on its local plan update, which helps determine where housing is built in the years ahead, and risks losing control over where huge new developments are built. 

Breckland Council offices (Image: Ian Burt) WHAT IS CHANGING? 

The Labour government has published draft revisions to the NPPF, the guidelines that govern the planning system. Its proposed changes include raising the national housing target to 370,000 new homes per year.

Under the Conservative government these targets were advisory rather than mandatory. They allowed councils to allocate less land to future developments if local officials could argue it would damage the character of an area.

The changes which are currently under consultation will require councils to re-calculate how much land they must allocate for new housing, to ensure supply is boosted in every part of the country.

The government will also allow the targeted release of so-called grey belt land, which includes disused petrol stations and car parks on parts of protected land known as the green belt.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool (Image: Peter Byrne/PA) The proposals will see Breckland Council's housing target increase from 625 homes per year to 917 - an uplift of 47pc. 

This compares to an uplift of 60pc in Great Yarmouth, 70pc in North Norfolk, 88pc in West Norfolk and 37pc across the South Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland districts. 

COUNCIL CRITICISM

Members of Breckland Council have criticised the proposed changes, which will put pressure on the authority to give the green light to more housing developments across the district. 

Paul Claussen, a Conservative member of the council, said: "This increased target is absolutely farcical and has not been thought through.

"There is no way in the world that you can look at all of the problems we face in housing - like the nutrient neutrality battleground - and think this is achievable. 

"I haven't got a clue what we can do to influence the thinking of this government."

Councillor Paul Claussen (Image: Breckland Council)

Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of the council, added: "I'm disappointed and frustrated at this change to our housing number as this large increase will have a great impact on many residents and businesses across our district. 

"This will be a burden on all of our communities."

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? 

Breckland Council has voted to pause the development of its new local plan, which guides where new homes are built across the district, while it awaits clarity from the government.

The current plan will be out of date within two months and once this happens the council risks failing to demonstrate that it has a five year housing supply, which proves it can deliver sufficient homes.

Barker's Farm in Larling, which has been earmarked for 2,000 new homes in the draft local plan update (Image: Denise Bradley) Without this, councils lose control over where new homes are built and the door is left open for developers to win permission for housing sites that aren't allocated in a plan.

This could see huge developments slip through the cracks of the planning process.

Mr Chapman-Allen says it was necessary to pause the plan as any changes to national policy will force the authority to revisit its proposals regardless.

"This is not a decision we are making lightly," he added.