The Government has published the 2019 results of the Housing Delivery Test, which shows that eight local authorities failed to deliver more than 45% of their housing target.
These local authorities now face a presumption in favour of sustainable development, whereas the 2018 results did not see any council facing this situation. The 2018 National Planning Policy Framework explained that local authorities must deliver 95% of assessed need to pass the Housing Delivery Test.
Local authorities that deliver between:
If delivery fell below 45% in 2019, the presumption in favour of sustainable development kicks in. This was set at 25% in 2018, but rises significantly to 75% for 2020.
Worst performers
Councils that delivered less than 45% of their housing target and now face the presumption in favour of sustainable development include:
In 2018 the test results found that New Forest District Council delivered the least housing (35%) against its target, followed by Calderdale and Redbridge councils, which delivered 36% and 38% respectively. New Forest District Council is facing the presumption in favour of sustainable development despite raising housing output to deliver 43% of its target. Calderdale and Redbridge boosted their housing delivery to 48% and 60% respectively.
The test shows that 75 local authorities will need to implement an additional 20% buffer of land supply on top of that already allocated, as well as the eight falling below the presumption threshold. A total of 26 local authorities delivered 85% to 95% of their housing targets and they, along with the 83 delivering below 85% of their targets, will have to devise an action plan. In total, 218 local councils face no penalty at all.
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) regions
Considered by RTPI region, the eight councils facing the presumption consequence are in the:
Most councils that are required to provide an additional 20% buffer of land supply are in these four regions, as well as the North West. If 2019 delivery levels are maintained in 2020, when the presumption threshold rises to 75%, at least one council in every region will be in this situation. Yorkshire and the North East regions will have one council each facing the presumption, while the South East and the East of England will face 15 and 14 respectively.
Responses
City of London Corporation commented that the test result does not take into account a development at Sugar Quay, which provided 165 new homes during 2018/19. They claim that their performance delivery is over 90% when this scheme is recognised in the figures and they are requesting an amendment to ensure the results reflect housing delivery in the city during the three years to March 2019.
"Our projections show that we will exceed the Government's requirements in the next Housing Delivery Test".
Eastbourne Borough Council have stated that the test is a "mathematical formula that does not take into account local context". They said that the under-delivery is a direct result of limited land availability within a constrained seaside town.
"We will continue to monitor our housing delivery but it’s acknowledged that the target can only be aspirational".
London Borough of Havering have said: "Through our joint venture partnership with Wates Residential, we are building up to 3,500 homes within the next 12 to 15 years, 1,956 of which have either already received planning consent or are expected to this year".
"It is true that Havering has not met the housing delivery targets imposed upon it. However, of the homes we have granted permission for through private development, some have not begun development as they said they would. We are working to address the issue of land banking and get them built including exploring options to take over development on such land".
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