New NPPF puts already under-resourced planning teams under further stress, says new report 

Almost nine in 10 local authority planning departments across England and Wales are experiencing staff shortages despite government reforms, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

The findings from the body’s survey of councils during the 2025/26 financial year showed that the average council employs fewer than 36 planning staff but requires around 44 to operate at full capacity.

This shortage has worsened since the body’s last annual survey when 80% of councils reported being understaffed.

While the HBF said it welcomes the new NPPF, it warned that higher housing targets, faster decision-making and a stronger presumption in favour of development around transport hubs, alongside new strategic planning and viability requirements “risk further stretching already under-resourced local planning teams”.

The ‘Planning on Empty’ report also highlighted that the shifting regulatory landscape continues to increase building complexity.

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Neil Jefferson, chief executive at HBF, said planning teams are “being asked to manage an increasing number of responsibilities”, such as compliance with new regulations like biodiversity net gain.

According to the report, councils now require around 2,660 additional planners to reach full capacity, a 20% increase on last year’s estimate of 2,200.

Local authorities have blamed a lack of staff and resources as one of the main reasons they are unable to monitor, allocate and spend Section 106 funds efficiently.

In response, HBF has encouraged the government to provide sustained, long-term funding to support planning departments in recruiting and retaining permanent staff, with planning officers and senior planners accounting for almost half of all vacancies.

The body has also urged ministers to ensure new planning reforms are backed by additional resources and to publish annual data on the capacity and performance of planning departments.

The report comes after prime minister Andy Burnham pledged to oversee the “biggest council house building programme since the post-war period” in June before formally taking up his new post.

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