HBF recommends measures to boost housing supply and 'urgent action' on section 106 pooling cut-off

The HBF noted in a submission (17-page / 303 KB PDF) to the UK treasury in advance of next week's 2015 Budget that, whilst the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) had increased "the number of homes progressing through the planning system", meeting the demand for housing would require measures to "increase the output of large house building companies" and to allow smaller companies to contribute more to the housing supply.

The submission recommended that the NPPF be "strengthened" by requiring local authorities to "provide a greater mix of sites within local plans" and to include "an additional 'implementation gap' allowance [within their local plan housing allocations] over and above the estimated housing need". The HBF said that increasing the number and variety of development sites available would "help stimulate activity by [small] house builders".

The trade body called for "urgent action" to prevent a restriction in the community infrastructure levy (CIL) regulations from causing a fall in housing development. The regulations will prevent councils without an adopted CIL schedule from pooling more than five section 106 contributions towards the same infrastructure type or project from 6 April. The HBF estimated that only 25% of councils would have adopted a CIL charging schedule by the April deadline and raised concerns that planning applications might be refused due to their impacts on infrastructure which could not be mitigated due to the restriction.

Whilst welcoming the efforts of the Homes and Communities Agency to disposing of public land for redevelopment, the trade body said "the next challenge will be to consider how local authorities could bring forward more of their own sites to meet the housing needs of their residents". The submission said delays in deciding planning applications were "slowing the speed at which successful applicants can get on site and start building". The HBF recommended that the government explore "opportunities for outsourcing certain planning-related local authority legal and planning services".

Other measures suggested in the submission included investment in the provision of house building skills and the introduction of policies and incentives to increase the supply of housing suitable for older people looking to downsize their homes.