Closed petition: Pause housebuilding targets imposed on councils, review and identify local need
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We ask the government to pause housebuilding targets and consult local communities to identify where substantial house building is needed, not where developers prefer to build. We worry about developers appealing rejected applications and councils and communities often having no funds for a defence.
We are concerned that villages are being overwhelmed by inappropriate planning applications from land banking developers despite the lack of employment, infrastructure, and services in rural areas – outdated water/sewage pipes, inadequate public transport, limited health services. We feel that local housing needs do not require high end houses nor anything like the numbers of houses proposed.
In Mickleton, applications for hundreds of new houses have been submitted, representing a significant increase in village size. A local survey indicated a preference amongst many residents for accepting no more than 50 new homes over the next 5 years.
20,402 signatures
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Government responded to this petition
Housing targets are an important tool to ensure housing is directed to where it is most needed and least affordable. Local authorities should plan positively for infrastructure and service provision.
Read the response in full
In December 2024, the government introduced a new standard method for assessing housing needs that better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable.
To identify the minimum number of homes expected to be planned for, the new standard method uses a formula that incorporates a baseline of local housing stock, which is adjusted upwards to reflect local affordability pressures. Areas where unaffordability is most acute see the largest adjustment.
The new method strikes a balance between meeting the scale of need right across the country and focusing additional growth on those places facing the biggest affordability pressures. It is based on a more objective assessment of need and supports a more strategic approach to housing, distributing growth across wider city regions, not just to the largest urban authority within our largest cities.
The standard method is used by local authorities to inform the preparation of their local plans. Once local housing need has been assessed, authorities should then calculate the number of new homes that can be provided in their area. This should be justified by evidence on land availability and constraints on development, such as National Landscapes and areas at risk of flooding, and any other relevant matters.
It is for local authorities, in consultation with their communities, to set out the most appropriate strategy to meet their housing needs. The government expects local authorities to explore all options to deliver the homes their communities need – maximising brownfield land, working with neighbouring authorities, and, where necessary, reviewing Green Belt.
In rural areas, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances. This includes supporting housing development that reflects local needs, locating housing where it will enhance the vitality of rural communities, and identifying opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services.
On 17 August 2026, the government published a new NPPF, which includes measures designed to promote greater clarity and certainty on expected contributions from development, such as necessary supporting infrastructure. The new NPPF is available on gov.uk here (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework).
In meeting housing need, achieving sustainable development sits at the heart of the planning system. Local planning authorities are responsible for identifying sites in their plans to guide development to the most suitable locations, supported by the right infrastructure. In doing so, local authorities must carry out robust consultation with local communities, making local plans the best way for communities to shape decisions about how to deliver the development their areas need. Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure, identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward.
Contributions from developers, secured through section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), play an important role in delivering much-needed affordable homes and the infrastructure to support new development and mitigate its impacts. The government recognises how important this is to local communities, which is why we are committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions.
If a planning application is refused, it is possible to appeal to the Secretary of State. In deciding appeals, planning inspectors, who are appointed to decide appeals on behalf of the Secretary of State, take decisions on the basis of the local plan in place for the area. While they may come to a different view from the local planning authority, this does not mean that they have disregarded the views of the local authority or local residents – rather that they have attributed different weight to the issues. Currently around two-thirds of appeals are refused, so the decision of the local authority is upheld in most cases.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
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Petition closed
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Government will respond to this petition
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Petition published
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If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.
If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
This petition will stay open until 30 September 2026.