Gove issues ultimatum to councils: ‘No Excuse’ for delaying housing plans

Michael Gove has announced a new national policy framework (NPFF) in his long-term plan for housing.

The Housing Secretary laid out his plans to build more homes across England and promised to act against councils that miss deadlines to submit their housing plans.

The government has been under pressure after they abandoned house-building targets of 300,000 new homes every year.

Stripped away measures

In a speech, Mr Gove announced the long-awaited national policy framework. A consultation on new proposals for the NPFF took place in July this year but the government delayed plans for it to come into force until the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill went through Parliament.

The delay in publication of the NPPF has been difficult for developers, who blame the consultation on policy changes for a deepening of the current planning hiatus.

Shadow Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner vowed to reverse changes to the NPFF and reinstate local housing targets.

Ms Rayner told Housing Today: “Gove’s latest announcement is truly through the looking glass.

“Despite all this tough talk, he and Rishi Sunak have stripped away every measure that would get shovels in the ground and houses built to appease their backbenchers. We simply can’t be expected to believe that the government will take the steps necessary to get the homes built that Britain desperately needs.”

No excuse for any local authority not to have a plan in place

However, in his speech, Mr Gove said councils have “no excuse” for not building homes in their area.

He said: “There is now no excuse for any local authority not to have a plan in place, no excuse not to ensure that homes are delivered swiftly and efficiently through that plan, and no excuse for leaving communities – and the next generation – without the homes they need.”

He added seven councils have not provided a local plan for housing since 2004 and has given them three months to come up with a plan.

He said: “That is why today I am issuing a direction to seven of the worst authorities in terms of plan-making who have failed not just to adopt a plan but even to submit one to examination since 2004.

“St Albans, Amber Valley, Ashfield, Medway, Uttlesford, Basildon, and Castle Point will all need to provide me with a planned timetable within 12 weeks. Should they fail, I will consider further intervention to ensure that a plan is put in place.”

League tables will be published to call out authorities that fail to submit their future development plans and the Secretary of State said he will intervene if necessary.

Selective licencing

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, asked Mr Gove at the end of his speech about selective licencing and asked why he thought it was necessary.

You can watch Mr Gove’s response below:

Ben asked the Housing Secretary: "If we have an effective property portal, why do we need selective licensing schemes as well?"

In reply, the Housing Secretary said: "You make a good point." [2/2]

Clip credit: LUHC #PlanningForTheFuture pic.twitter.com/aiSPghTeny

— NRLA – National Residential Landlords Association (@NRLAssociation) December 19, 2023