Managing Policy Change and Implementation: The Role of Local Authority Planners in Local Housing Delivery

Abstract

This research examines how local authority planners can enhance housing delivery through private developers in high-pressure urban housing markets. Focusing on the context of London boroughs following the introduction of the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) in 2018, the study investigates planner-involved policy entrepreneurship in relation to housing supply. The research explores three interconnected dimensions: planners’ involvement in policy change, their role in shaping strategic policy directions, and their management of implementation processes that support housing delivery. The study adopts the Design Recovery in Cases (DRC) methodology, an extended case study approach that combines case characterisation, explanatory analysis, and comparative investigation. Three London boroughs—Waltham Forest, Southwark, and Westminster—are selected as case studies to examine differing responses to similar regulatory pressures. Data collection combines archival research and expert interviews to identify key implementation episodes and governance strategies. Preliminary findings suggest that boroughs exhibit distinct responses shaped by local political, institutional, and market conditions, including voluntary compliance measures, shifts in development strategies, and responses to political change. The study aims to contribute both practical and theoretical insights into housing policy implementation and the role of planners in addressing housing delivery challenges within complex urban governance systems.