Andy Burnham’s First Weeks as PM – What has he said on planning and development?

It’s the end of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first weeks in office, and the new Government has already prompted significant discussion and speculation about its approach to planning and development.

At CalComms, we pride ourselves on helping our clients across the development industry navigate the uncertainty that often accompanies a change in Government, both in town halls and Whitehall. To help make sense of the evolving policy landscape, we’ve put together a quick Q&A covering the issues we’re being asked about most frequently, along with our thoughts on what may change – and what is likely to remain the same – under the new administration.

Why hasn't the updated NPPF been released? When do you think we'll see it published?

The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) remains one of the most eagerly anticipated policy changes for the development industry and has been expected for several months. Rumour suggested the revised document would be published in mid-July. However, the change of administration appears to have delayed its release. When the draft proposals were discussed last December, it was suggested that the new NPPF would introduce a clearer distinction between national decision-making policies and plan-making policies, shifting the emphasis away from discretionary decisions guided by the NPPF towards a more rules-based planning system.

The draft also proposed replacing the current "presumption in favour of sustainable development" with "a permanent presumption in favour of suitably located development", applying to proposals both within and outside existing settlements.

Most recently, Parliament debated the proposed changes on 16 July. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook defended the reforms, arguing they would accelerate housebuilding and improve planning efficiency. However, MPs from across both Government and Opposition benches raised concerns that the proposals could increase flood risk, weaken local decision-making, place additional pressure on rural communities and fail to ensure infrastructure and genuinely affordable housing keep pace with development. For now, it appears that the updated NPPF – which many in the industry expect to be a substantial rewrite of the existing framework – has been delayed until at least September.

What will happen to the Grey Belt policy? Do you think it will be retained?

Grey Belt has been one of the previous Government's most significant pro-development planning policies, and many across the industry are keen to see it retained under Andy Burnham's administration.

Burnham has consistently expressed support for higher-density metropolitan development, prompting questions about whether his priorities could shift away from rural development opportunities that Grey Belt policy is intended to support.

There is both encouraging, and more cautious news for the industry.

The positive news is that sources close to the Prime Minister have indicated that he broadly supports the Government's national position on Grey Belt.

The more cautious message is that Burnham has previously argued that Green Belt development should only be considered where suitable brownfield alternatives are unavailable. This suggests his Government may place an even stronger emphasis on non-Green Belt brownfield regeneration where opportunities exist.

He has also consistently prioritised delivery over adherence to any single planning policy. As a result, elements of the current Grey Belt policy could still evolve. For example, the existing 50% affordable housing threshold has not always succeeded in unlocking development and, in some cases, has delayed delivery. Adjustments to this requirement could therefore be considered.

At present, there is no indication that the Government intends to abandon the Grey Belt policy. Nevertheless, it remains possible that Burnham and the returning Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, may prove less supportive of Green Belt release than the previous administration when faced with politically sensitive proposals.

Has the updated London Plan been changed to reflect Andy Burnham's housing agenda?

No formal announcement has suggested that Andy Burnham intervened in the preparation of the updated London Plan. However, several of its provisions align closely with his broader priorities around housing delivery and devolution.

One notable example is the introduction of borough-specific affordable housing targets, providing tailored objectives for individual London boroughs. This reflects Burnham's emphasis on locally driven, place-based approaches to housing delivery.

The new London Plan also provides for the limited and carefully controlled release of Metropolitan Open Land in exceptional circumstances, reflecting a growth-focused agenda aimed at unlocking constrained housing supply.

Importantly, the Plan increases London's annual housing target from 52,000 to 55,800 homes per year. This suggests that Burnham has not sought to reduce London's housing responsibilities and recognises the scale of the capital's housing challenge.

Overall, the publication of the new London Plan is a positive signal, indicating that the Government is allowing London to continue progressing with a plan-led approach for the next decade.

What is going to happen to Local Government Reform and devolution now that we have a new Prime Minister?

Andy Burnham has long been an advocate for Local Government Reform (LGR) and devolution, and both programmes appear to be continuing at pace – if not accelerating.

On 16 July, the Government announced its preferred unitary authority proposals for 14 authorities, allowing those areas to move into the next stage of the LGR process. Authorities will now begin preparing Structural Change Orders, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government asking chief executives to submit these by the end of the autumn.

Shadow authority elections are scheduled for May 2027, while the proposed vesting day for the new unitary councils remains April 2028. More detail is expected once the Structural Change Orders are published later this year.

Devolution remains one of Burnham's flagship priorities. Speaking last week, he outlined further proposals for England's devolved authorities. Perhaps the most significant announcement was his proposal to allow city region mayors to retain a share of local income tax revenues for the first time, alongside a proportion of locally generated business rates.

This represents one of the clearest demonstrations yet of Burnham's commitment to devolving financial powers and strengthening strategic mayoral authorities. Full details, including the proportion of tax revenues to be retained locally, are expected in the Chancellor's Autumn Budget.

One area that could particularly benefit is the planning system, which has experienced some of the deepest funding cuts across local government. Greater fiscal autonomy could allow authorities to properly resource planning departments, recruit additional officers and improve staff retention. Combined with the Government's ongoing trial of AI-powered planning application validation tools across several local authorities, there is clear evidence of a continued focus on improving the speed and efficiency of the planning system.

The updated housing figures haven't been released. When do you think they will be, and are they likely to be revised?

The updated housing figures have yet to be published and, based on communications between central and local government, they are now unlikely to be released before October.

This delay is already having implications for Local Plans, as updated housing requirements form an important part of councils' five-year housing land supply evidence.

The remaining question is whether Angela Rayner will review the proposed figures before publication. The draft London Plan has already hinted that revised housing targets may differ significantly from previous expectations. Hillingdon, for example was proposed to receive the largest increase, rising by 1,320 homes per year (55%). Tower Hamlets will see the largest reduction, falling by 1,003 homes per year (29%).

Taken together with Burnham's emphasis on sustainable urban expansion and the delayed publication timetable, the industry should expect at least some changes to the 2026 housing figures compared with those previously anticipated for 2025.

If you have any questions on the above, or would like to discuss with our team, please do contact: alex@calcomms.co.uk