Weekly planning news

Applications previously rejected on greenbelt could be approved under greybelt

that were later approved under greybelt designation. Now, new analysis covered by The Planner¹ suggests that up to 27,000 homes previously denied due to greenbelt restrictions could now gain approval under this reclassification.

While the data does not specify how many of these applications went through appeals, it indicates that some previously rejected proposals may be worth revisiting.

Greybelt is defined as land that does not 'strongly contribute' to at least three of the five greenbelt principles, creating new opportunities for development in areas once considered off-limits.

Our recent litepaper, Plotting the Future², explored government initiatives, including greybelt, and their impact on land availability for housing development.

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13 Local Authorities at Risk of Special Measures

New government figures have revealed that 13 local authorities are at risk of being placed into special measures due to ‘poor’ planning performance, with some councils seeing more than a third of their major applications overturned at appeal.

Under the government's ‘special measures’ programme, councils that fail to meet certain thresholds for the speed and quality of their planning decisions may have their decision-making powers removed, with applications instead handled by the Planning Inspectorate.

To avoid special measures designation, councils must ensure that fewer than 10% of their major or non-major decisions are overturned at appeal over a two-year period.

The Councils at Risk

13 local authorities have exceeded the 10% threshold in at least one category, leaving them vulnerable to intervention. This is a slight improvement from last quarter, which saw 14 councils exceed the limit.

Among the councils most at risk:

• Lewes District Council (East Sussex) remains the most at-risk authority, with a staggering 35.7% of its major planning decisions overturned at appeal.
• Three Rivers District Council (Hertfordshire) follows, with 24% of its major applications overturned.
• Basildon Borough Council (Essex) also ranks highly, with 14.6% of its major decisions overturned.

Notably, no councils have exceeded the threshold for major county matters or non-major district-level applications, though some authorities have had individual decisions overturned. These findings highlight ongoing challenges for local planning authorities, many of which are under pressure due to resourcing constraints, complex applications, and evolving policy requirements.

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Government Clarifies That £100m for Planning Authorities Is Not ‘New’

Planning have revealed that the £100 million the government pledged in December 2024 to support local planning authorities (LPAs) in 2025/26 constitutes a repackaging of previously announced financial measures.

When the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in December, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) stated that £100 million of extra funding would be made available to councils to assist in updating local plans, reviewing green belt land, hiring staff, and conducting technical studies.

In response to recent enquiries, MHCLG has outlined that the £100 million includes:

• £46 million announced in the October Budget for hiring and training 300 graduate and apprentice planning officers;
• £50 million in expected revenue from increased planning fees, introduced in August;
• £5 million designated for improvements to the planning regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs).

Following this clarification, the government has updated its 12 December press statement, removing references to the £100 million being "on top of" other financial support. A spokesperson from MHCLG confirmed that this amendment was made on 21 January to "reflect the current position."

The government has not provided further clarity on how the £46 million allocated for planning capacity and capability will be distributed. The department is reportedly still in discussions with delivery partners, with more details expected soon.

You can find more details on Planning.⁴

1. https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/02/03/27000-rejected-green-belt-homes-would-be-approved-under-grey-belt-policy-research
2. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/plotting-for-the-future
3. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/products-services/planning-engagement-programme
4. https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1904610/government-admits-100m-additional-funding-promised-lpas-next-year-not-new-money