Bewley Homes’ managing director, Andrew Brooks, sets out the current situation of the planning crisis and the need for innovation in the industry to speed up housing delivery.
The latest proposals in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are a welcome step in the right direction, but they lack the necessary bite to drive the real, tangible changes in the time that our industry so desperately needs. The government’s commitment to reform is commendable, but the pace at which these changes are being implemented simply isn’t fast enough to address the growing crisis in housing delivery.
A recent example illustrates this challenge all too clearly. We recently presented a reserved matters application to a planning committee with full support and recommendation for approval from officers. This was in a local authority that could only demonstrate a two-year land supply—well below the five-year requirement—despite thousands of people sitting on their waiting list for affordable housing. Our development would have also provided much-needed homes and contributed to solving the housing crisis in the area.
Contrary to the desires of the government’s Housing Reform Bill, the committee refused our application—not for any valid planning reason, but because they deemed it ‘ugly’, and heavily influenced by the local community being opposed to planning even though it has the benefit of an outline consent. This decision is particularly painful given our company’s 30-plus-year track record of delivering award-winning, and might I say beautifully designed, developments.
This should serve as a stark wake-up call. Rogue, NIMBY politicians are still wielding too much influence over housing delivery, due to the local communities. The government’s drive for the training of councillors is not only much-needed but also essential, yet I fear that planning committee members will still be influenced by local NIMBY groups unless they are held accountable for their decisions.
The Housing Reform Bill may help mitigate some of these issues, but it won’t happen quickly enough if the Labour government truly wants to accelerate the pace of housing construction and, in their words, get more ‘shovels in the ground.’
Beyond local politics, the planning system itself is under immense strain. Resources are stretched to the limit and planning professionals—many of whom are demotivated by excessive workloads and lack of job satisfaction—are leaving public service in droves to join the private sector. This exacerbates an already sluggish system, creating further bottlenecks in decision-making. The appeal system is also creaking with the strain and can’t keep up.
Technology, particularly AI, presents a viable solution to speeding up the process. I explored this in detail in an article for Show House magazine last year, advocating for AI-driven efficiencies to help ease the burden on planning departments. However, until such solutions are widely adopted, we remain stuck in an outdated system that continues to hinder the delivery of much-needed homes.
With the government’s much-touted ‘new towns’ initiative, while ambitious, it is difficult to see how these projects will contribute meaningfully to housing targets within Labour’s current five-year term or if elected, a second term. Whilst it is comforting that a government is looking beyond the immediate future for the long-term delivery of housing, it has to be taken into account that large-scale developments take time and without significant structural reform to speed up planning approvals, their impact is likely to be limited in the short and medium term.
Yet, despite these challenges, there is still reason for optimism. The very fact that the NPPF proposals are being reviewed is an acknowledgment that change is necessary. There is growing recognition across the industry that a more efficient, technology-driven planning system is the way forward. If the government can harness this momentum, streamline planning processes and curb unnecessary political interference, we may finally see the progress we’ve been waiting for. But how long will it take?
With collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to embrace new solutions, the future of housing delivery can still be bright, but we need to act—fast.
