It’s important to note that planning applications submitted before the land’s inclusion in the Development Plan are typically refused, unless they are in line with current development plan policies, or the local authority is not meeting its housing targets as specified by the National Planning Policy Framework.

Given the high number of competing sites and the council’s preferred Spatial Strategy, it’s not unusual for sites to be initially unsuccessful in the current emerging development plan review. Often, the prospects for success improve substantially in the subsequent Five Year Plan Review.

Therefore, it is in the best interest of both parties that the contract length accommodates potential delays and various scenarios.