TAN 1 paragraph attaching ‘considerable’ weight to the lack of 5-year housing land supply disapplied
The Welsh Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths has launched a ‘Call for Evidence’ to explore ways to improve the planning system, specifically to address housing land supply and delivery issues.
In her letter to all Heads of Planning, Lesley Griffiths also announced that, as a result of the current housing land supply position across Wales (19 Welsh LPAs are unable to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply), and ‘to alleviate some of the immediate pressure on LPAs’ paragraph 6.2 of the Technical Advice Note (TAN) 1 is dis-applied - with immediate effect from 18 July 2018.
The announcement, which follows on from the May 2018 consultation decision to temporarily dis-apply the same paragraph, effectively removes the paragraph ‘which refers to attaching ‘considerable' weight to the lack of a 5-year housing land supply as a material consideration in determining planning applications for housing’.
The Call for Evidence closes on 10 October.
Welsh Government, Call for evidence on the delivery of housing through the planning system, letter to Heads of PlanningWelsh Government, Delivery of housing through the planning system, consultation documentWelsh Government, 2 May 2018 letter to Heads of Planning on intention to disapply paragraph 6.2 of TAN 1 on 5-year housing land supply for duration of review
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Quote of the month
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As a result of the current housing land supply position across Wales some local planning authorities (LPAs) are receiving ‘speculative’ applications for housing on sites not allocated for development in local development plans (LDPs). This is generating uncertainty for communities and is to the detriment of the plan-led system. Therefore, in support of the review and to alleviate some of the immediate pressure on LPAs, I have decided to dis-apply paragraph 6.2 of Technical Advice Note (TAN) 1, Joint Housing Land Availability Studies, following the consultation on this matter
Welsh Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, in her letter announcing the Call for Evidence to address housing land supply and delivery issues |
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Consultation launched on draft noise and soundscape action plan 2018-2023
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on the draft noise and soundscape action plan 2018-2023; the consultation will close on 3 October.
One of the main differences from the current Plan is that the draft ‘highlights the proposed updates to national planning policy and guidance in Wales that relate to noise and soundscape’. The draft Plan recognises that:
‘[n]otwithstanding the overall placemaking aims of Planning Policy Wales (PPW), the key means of conveying the specific issues of air quality and soundscape in the new draft is through a guiding framework, supplemented by more detailed considerations.’
The draft Plan identifies as a ‘long-standing key policy’ how ‘all those participating in the planning process will need to consider the effects that proposed development have on air or soundscape quality and the effects that existing air or soundscape quality may have on proposed development’.
As also specified in the draft Plan:
‘[t]he Welsh Government will build upon the new air quality and soundscape content of PPW as [it takes] forward Wales’ first statutory National Development Framework and produce further guidance on air and soundscape quality to assist local planning authorities in Wales’. Specifically, the Welsh Government intends to conduct a detail review of Technical Advice Note (TAN) 11: Noise ‘with a view to replacing it with a new TAN addressing air quality and soundscape.’
Welsh Government, Noise and soundscape action plan 2018-2023, consultation documentWelsh Government, Noise and soundscape action plan 2018-2023, consultation draft
Consultation on consolidation of Use Classes and General Permitted Development Orders extended
The Welsh Government has announced the extension of its consultation on the consolidation of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
The consultation, launched in May 2018, will now end on 28 September 2018.
Lichfields, Wales planning news, June 2018Welsh Government, Subordinate legislation consolidation and review, consultation document
Call for evidence for independent review of affordable housing supply
The Welsh Government has issued a call for evidence for the independent review of affordable housing supply that was announced in April. The review is examining current arrangements supporting the development of affordable housing and it is to make recommendations for ‘changes designed to increase supply and improve delivery from the resources available’. A final report summarising the review recommendations is due to be submitted to the Minister for Housing and Regeneration by the end of April next year. The call for evidence closes on 14 September; it is structured around 10 workstreams, one of which is ‘the use of existing powers’ – a reference to planning and the environment - and a question is posed on maximising the use of existing legal powers to deliver affordable housing.
Welsh Government, affordable housing supply independent review
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The Lichfields perspective
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Housing delivery in Wales is already well below the level that is needed, but the Welsh Government’s new approach will result in a further reduction in delivery. Changes to TAN1 to remove reference to the need to give ‘considerable weight' to the importance of increasing housing supply in cases where a 5-year supply cannot be demonstrated sends a powerful message that a failure to deliver housing in line with LDP requirements is acceptable and means that there is now no incentive for local authorities to meet their own housing targets.
Simon Coop, Planning Director |
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Disclaimer: This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. Lichfields accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication. Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. Registered in England, no.2778116
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