Draft Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment Methodology (June 2022)

2.0 POLICY CONTEXT

National Planning Policy Framework

2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework, July 2021 (NPPF) sets out that "The preparation and review of all policies should be underpinned by relevant and up-to-date evidence. This should be adequate and proportionate, focused tightly on supporting and justifying the policies concerned, and take into account relevant market signals."^[1]

2.2 The NPPF requires "Strategic policy-making authorities to have a clear understanding of the land available in their area through the preparation of a strategic housing land availability assessment. From this, planning policies should identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability and likely economic viability."^[2]

Planning Practice Guidance

2.3 In March 2014, the Government published its Planning Practice Guidance which expands upon and provides practical guidance to support the NPPF. The PPG is regularly updated, with the latest guidance relevant to the HELAA being published in July 2019.

2.4 The HELAA guidance states that the purpose of the assessment is to identify a future supply of land which is suitable, available and achievable for housing and economic development uses over the plan period. The assessment also helps with the identification of a five-year supply of housing land and help to inform as well as make use of sites in brownfield registers.^[3]