Nearly half of all local planning authorities in England have yet to publish a draft Local Plan, new research has revealed.
Planned and Deliver, published by planning and development consultancy Lichfields, found only 36% of local planning authorities have adopted a Local Plan under the National Planning Policy Framework.
The report authors warn this could expose two-thirds of councils to government interventions to encourage housing delivery and plan-making.
Matthew Spry, senior director of Lichfields, said: ‘To encourage local authorities to proactively manage the delivery of new homes, Government is consulting on introduction of new housing delivery tests.
‘Our research has identified some 222 local authority areas (56%) may fail these tests and face the consequences of needing an action plan or application of a 20% buffer on their five year land supply.’
The biggest gaps in Plan coverage were in areas with the most difficult planning issues the report found, such as those covered in Green Belt or subject to national designations that can restrict development.
