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Some 51 local planning authorities (LPAs) in England delivered less than 75% of their housing requirement in the three years to March 2021, according to the results of the latest Housing Delivery Test (HDT).

These LPAs now face presumption in favour of sustainable development, a policy which approves any development unless its adverse impacts "significantly and demonstrably" outweigh their benefits. Consequently, these areas face having less sway over planning decisions.

Elsewhere, 19 LPAs saw delivery fall between 75% and 85% of housing need, therefore requiring the addition of a 20% buffer to their calculation of five year housing land supply. An additional 23 LPAs delivered between 85% and 95% of need and will be required to write an action plan outlining how they will increase delivery.

The remaining 71% of local authorities delivered at least 95% of their housing requirement in the three years to March 2021. The intention of the HDT is to encourage local planning authorities to boost housing supply to avoid the threat of losing control of development in their areas.

To reflect the disruption experienced as a result of the pandemic, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) reduced the homes required within the 2019 to 2020 year by a month and within the 2020 and 2021 year by four months.

Regional breakdown

Most LPAs which failed the HDT and face presumption in favour of development are located in the East of England or the South East, though there is also a noticeable grouping around Greater Manchester. Most of these contain some element of Green Belt coverage. In fact, of the 51 LPAs which failed the 2021 HDT, more than 70% are constrained to some extent by the green belt.

Consequently, whilst these LPAs face presumption in favour of development as per the HDT results, in many cases this will be overridden by the NPPF which provides an exemption for sites on green belt land, unless 鈥渧ery special circumstances鈥� exist.

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