District Matters

Ministers overriding our local decisions

September 2025

How much do Ministers and civil servants based in London know about the ‘real’ world of local government – let alone local communities? Who actually makes the decisions; Ministers or the house building lobby?

Decisions made in Westminster can have a profound effect on the everyday lives of local people. Councils are facing significant challenges, and we need Government to understand and assist. They are an essential fount of local knowledge and play an essential part in community cohesion. Yet the contact between the two levels of Government appears to be minimal.

After cumulative under-delivery of houses against Government requirements in the district between 2011 and 2017, there has been an over-provision in every other year since, except for during the Covid-19 pandemic. By the end of last year that over-provision was 2,973. Between 2011 and 2024 a total of 12,463 houses were built in this district. The council has a good track record of delivering overall numbers of homes and has previously met Government targets. Yet a change in policy has thrown this into question. Recent changes to national planning policy is bringing additional housing pressures to our area.

A new National Planning Framework (NPPF) introduced in December 2024 has significantly altered how housing land supply is calculated. The Government’s new methodology changes the target for this District from 603 houses per year to 1,126 houses per year almost overnight. Since then, it has been made clear that any over provision from the past will not be allowed to count.

It is not just the numbers involved. Amongst the challenges we face are how to deliver genuinely affordable housing whilst not blanketing our countryside with speculative housing developments, how to protect environmental and cultural heritage and how to ensure that the supporting infrastructure required is financed and provided.

Across the country there is land with planning consent for more than a million new homes that have not yet been built. This land banking occurs within our own District, and we need the powers to challenge this.

As councillors we have a sense of pride in being able to improve our communities and make a positive impact. We need Government to help us and not try to control from the centre. We know our communities and we are the people who understand the complexities around decision making. Local government decisions have to consider a range of drivers and stakeholders including legislation from central Government. The difficulties are made harder when Government moves the goal posts at short notice.

Local Government is, above all, about local people and local communities with their own character. We don’t want every area to look the same. That is why the Local Plan is so important. An evidence-based comprehensive approach to assessing an area’s needs is subjected to rigorous independent assessment. Allowing Government to impose ad-hoc changes is not supportive, especially when there is land available that already has planning permission.

We need to ensure that environmental and heritage is protected and that there is adequate affordable housing, school places and GP surgeries. Current Government policy seems to be to over-ride both local decision-making and local resident’s concerns.

My challenge to Ministers is to meet with us, hear what we have to say and support us in providing the affordable homes needed - not put hurdles in our way.  Meanwhile we will continue to take advice.