Housing numbers
The December 2023 NPPF had made the standard method for housing need an ‘advisory starting point’. Twelve months later the new government reversed that. The December 2024 version introduced a revised standard method based on existing housing stock and affordability, totalling around 370,000 homes a year across England, and expected councils to plan to meet it.
Councils also again had to show a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, with a 5% buffer, and more where delivery had been poor. Where they could not, the presumption in favour of sustainable development (the ‘tilted balance’) applied. This was replaced again by the NPPF 2026.
The grey belt
The most talked-about change was the grey belt: Green Belt land, often previously developed, that does not strongly contribute to the purposes of checking urban sprawl, preventing towns merging, or preserving historic towns. Housing, commercial and other development on grey belt land is not inappropriate where:
- it would not fundamentally undermine the purposes of the remaining Green Belt;
- there is a demonstrable unmet need for that type of development;
- the site is in a sustainable location; and
- for major housing, the ‘golden rules’ are met.
The golden rules
Major housing on land released from the Green Belt must provide affordable housing 15 percentage points above the highest existing local requirement (up to 50%), necessary local infrastructure, and new or improved green spaces accessible to the public.
Why it still matters
Many of these principles carried into the 2026 Framework. If you own land in the Green Belt, particularly previously developed land or sites on the edge of settlements, it is worth an appraisal. See our Green Belt and grey belt guide.
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Sources
- The Planner: New housing targets come into force with NPPF update
- GOV.UK: National Planning Policy Framework (current and previous versions)
This article is general information about planning in England at the date shown. It is not advice on any particular site, and the law and policy may have changed since. Please speak to us before relying on it.