Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if a (a) local planning authority, and (b) planning inspector, is able to consider as a material planning consideration, the likelihood of a local planning authority making up a shortfall identified in its five year supply of deliverable housing sites in later years in an (i) existing Local Plan; and (ii) emerging Local Plan, when determining planning application.

The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.

Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.

To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.