The long-awaited 2020 Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results have finally been published. The HDT requires councils to demonstrate they have delivered 75% or more of the number of homes they were supposed to over the last three years and if they cannot, the presumption in favour of sustainable development is engaged. Speaking on the publication, Steve Tapscott, Associate Director at Chapman Lily, commented ‘this is different from the requirement for councils to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, albeit the ramifications in terms of engaging the presumption in favour are ultimately the same. What this means is that it opens up opportunities for speculative development in unconstrained, edge-of-settlement locations, even if the council actually has a five-year housing land supply. Purbeck is a good example, where the Council claims it has a five-year supply, but because the rate of delivery has only been at 74% of the target over the last three years, the presumption in favour kicks in. We can see from the results that numerous councils across the country will find themselves in a similar position’.
If you are promoting land for development and would like to know more about how this may affect you, please contact Chapman Lily Planning.