Iceni Projects has looked into the possible repercussions of the Government’s announcement last week by Planning Minister Brandon Lewis that planning authorities in England must produce post-NPPF local plans by early 2017 or face intervention.

Recent research carried out by Iceni Projects has found that only 125 of 330 local authorities in England (38%) have adopted their Local Plans since the publication of the NPPF (information gathered April – July 2015), which underpins why the Government has felt compelled to comment on this matter.

However, the danger is that in trying to right a wrong, further damage may be committed to the plan making process.  Communities Secretary of State, Greg Clark, has voiced concern that some Inspectors are taking too tough a line on emerging development plans, stating that “there is a real value in getting a local plan in place at the soonest opportunity, even if it has some shortcomings which are not critical to the whole plan. ... it is critical that inspectors approach examination from the perspective of working pragmatically with councils towards achieving a sound local plan.”