Minister urges councils to update local plans

The housing minister has warned a ‘small number’ of local authorities are not keeping their local plans up to date.

According to the government, nine in 10 local planning authorities have now adopted a local plan, but ‘many of them’ are not being kept up-to-date.

In March 2020, the government set a deadline of December 2023 for all councils to have up-to-date Local Plans in place.

In a written statement to parliament, housing minister Christopher Pincher said he will consider contacting those authorities ‘where delays to plan-making have occurred to discuss the reasons why this has happened and actions to be undertaken’.

‘It is critical that work should continue to advance local plans through to adoption by the end of 2023 to help ensure that the economy can rebound strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic,’ added the minister.

‘Completing local plans will help to ensure that we can build back better and continue to deliver the homes that are needed across England.’

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also said it wants to see neighbourhood plans continue to progress with the support of local planning authorities, to give more communities a greater role in shaping the development and growth of their local areas.

‘Despite the significant challenges caused by the pandemic, I know the majority of councils are doing all they can to build much-needed homes across England,’ said Mr Pincher.

‘I would like to thank them for the important work they do to deliver the homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure that make such a difference to their local communities.

‘However, a number of councils are not keeping plans up to date and I urge them to avoid any unnecessary delays and maintain progress on plan making,’ he added.

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