Rutland will be open to speculative housing developments for the next 12 months, due to a change in national policy. 

The government's new national policy framework, which was issued in December, more than doubled the number of homes to be built in Rutland from 123 a year to 266. The increase means the authority, which has recently submitted its emerging local plan to the government, cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply, as its current plan does not outline enough allocated sites to build homes. 

A number of councils across the country have been caught out by the Labour government's hike in housing numbers and in Rutland the shortfall has already had an impact.  

Recently the council had to drop a fight against an appeal for housing at Edith Weston and a previously refused development by Manor Oak Homes in Ryhall was also approved. The same developer last month resubmitted a previously refused development for Ketton, citing the lack of a five-year land supply as a reason for the council approving.   

At the cabinet meeting today (Tuesday, April 8) portfolio holder for planning Cllr Paul Browne (Lib Dem) said: "A major consequence of this decreed local housing need is that we no longer have a demonstrable five year local housing supply, so the tilted balance therefore now applies and planning applications should now be granted unless adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefit. 

"This will remain as our standard position until the emerging local plan is adopted, which is estimated in May 2026." 

The new rules mean the council will have to straight away begin work on amending its local plan, even before it is fully adopted. This is so more approved housing sites can be allocated. The authority is considering formerly unfavoured sites at former RAF base Woolfox and the St George's Barracks for the extra homes. The council is in talks with the ministry of justice about St George's Barracks – which was controversially refused in 2021. 

At today's cabinet meeting, it was agreed to begin work on the new local plan and approve a memorandum of understanding with the developers behind the Woolfox scheme.  

The council anticipates the new local plan will be approved by 2028.