Out-Law News

Nearly half of local authorities unable to demonstrate housing land supply


A survey undertaken by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) has revealed that nearly half of local authorities are unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land, Planning Magazine has reported.

Out of 289 planning authorities responding to the survey, only 54% said that they had a deliverable five-year supply of housing land. PAS programme manager Alice Lester said that, despite government guidance, many local authorities were still confused as to how to identify sites and calculate their supply, according to the report.

Under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), local plans which cannot demonstrate an adequate supply of housing land are deemed to be out-of-date and there is a presumption that planning permission should be granted unless significant adverse impacts outweigh the benefits of planned development.

A House of Commons communities and local government select committee inquiry into the operation of the NPPF is currently underway, the report said.  

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