The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has placed a holding direction on Three Rivers District Council’s emerging Local Plan. In a letter dated 5 February 2026, published on GOV.UK on 18 March, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook directed the authority under section 21A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 not to take any step connected with adoption while he considers further action. (gov.uk)
The minister’s concerns centre on delivery against assessed housing need. The draft would meet only 56% of the standard method figure and leave a shortfall of more than 5,000 homes, with the council’s own paperwork acknowledging significant examination risk. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
To inform his decision on whether to withdraw the holding direction or escalate intervention, the minister requested the full Regulation 19 evidence base by 19 February 2026. The letter notes the direction will stay in place until it is withdrawn or replaced by a section 21 direction, and flags that section 27 powers may also be used if required. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
A holding direction is a temporary statutory pause on adoption. Introduced by the Housing and Planning Act 2016 via section 21A, it allows the Secretary of State to prevent any adoption step while considering whether to intervene; the mechanism does not, in itself, preclude consultation or submission activities. (legislation.gov.uk)
Three Rivers had agreed its final draft at Full Council on 27 January 2026, describing an approach intended to minimise Green Belt release while planning for around 56% of the government‑derived housing figure ahead of publication at Regulation 19. (threerivers.gov.uk)
Committee papers set out that Regulation 19 publication was planned from Friday 6 February to Friday 20 March 2026, subject to finalising evidence-illustrating a compressed timetable at the point the minister acted. (moderngov.threerivers.gov.uk)
The context is a step‑up in assessed need. Following the December 2024 update to national policy, council documents record a requirement of 13,312 homes for 2025–2041 under the standard method, materially above earlier estimates. (moderngov.threerivers.gov.uk)
Government planning guidance confirms that ministers may intervene where plan progress or content falls short. The plan‑making guidance, last updated in November 2025, sets criteria used when considering the use of section 27 powers. (gov.uk)
For planners, developers and registered providers, the immediate operational effect is that adoption is paused pending the department’s review. Evidence sharing with officials and any subsequent use of sections 21 or 27 could adjust both timetable and content before the plan proceeds further. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)