We must strengthen national urban design guidance and apply it to greenfield developments

By Ben Derbyshire, Lucy Montague, Andrew Beharrell, Andy von Bradsky and Matthew Gouacher 2026-03-20T07:00:00

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The government must go further to deliver a faster approval process and more efficient use of land as well as higher standards of urban design, a group of housing experts write

Housing Minister Steve Reed has declared that Britain must ‘build, baby, build’. With two consultations under way we can now see the shape of the Labour government’s ideas for planning reform, aimed at unlocking delivery of new homes. The deadlines for responses on both the proposed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (DPPPG) close in March.

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