The RTPI Trust is a charity managed independently from the RTPI. Through donations, the Trust provides compassion and financial support to members of the RTPI and students pursuing a career in the planning profession who face barriers and difficulties due to financial hardship.

Each year the Trust awards several bursaries to undergraduate students on RTPI accredited courses. The bursaries aim to support and promote a diversity of new talent in the planning profession. In 2025 the Trust awarded six bursaries to students from across the UK and Ireland, including Hok Yu Lee who was studying the Mplan in Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Sheffield.

Hok Yu’s blog below considers the policy changes needed to increase the supply of secure and affordable housing within the UK:

The housing affordability crisis

The housing affordability crisis is one of the most urgent issues in planning today. Across the UK, house prices and rents have risen far beyond wage growth, making it increasingly difficult - especially for young professionals, low-income families, and key workers - to find secure and affordable housing. This crisis isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it has real social and economic consequences, affecting everything from job opportunities to community stability. If we want to create fairer, more sustainable cities, planners need to be part of the solution.

Why is housing so expensive?

One of the biggest reasons for this crisis is the imbalance between supply and demand. The UK simply isn’t building enough homes to keep up with its growing population. Underinvestment in housebuilding, restrictive planning policies, and lengthy approval processes have led to a chronic housing shortage. In high-demand areas like London and other major cities, this has pushed property prices to levels that are out of reach for many.

But supply alone isn’t the whole story. Over the years, housing has shifted from being seen as a basic necessity to a financial asset. Buy-to-let schemes, second-home ownership, and overseas investment have all contributed to rising house prices, making it even harder for first-time buyers and renters to find affordable options. At the same time, social housing has been neglected thousands of council homes were sold under Right to Buy without being replaced at the same rate, forcing more people into the expensive private rental market.

The role of planning and the NPPF

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is one of the key tools the government uses to shape housing policy. To tackle the affordability crisis, recent updates to the NPPF have introduced new proposals - including the "grey belt" policy. This would allow housing development on previously developed or low-quality land within the Green Belt, which has traditionally been protected from construction to prevent urban sprawl. The idea is to balance the need for new housing with environmental concerns. However, a House of Lords committee has cast doubt on whether this policy will make a meaningful difference. Critics argue that many of these sites are still difficult to develop and may not be in the areas where housing is most needed.

Another significant change relates to affordable housing requirements. Originally, the government planned to enforce a 50% affordable housing rule for all grey belt developments. However, this has now been softened. Instead, developers must provide 15% more affordable housing than the highest existing local policy, capped at 50%. While this aims to ensure that new developments include affordable homes, there’s concern that developers might still find ways to bypass these obligations, as has happened in the past.

What needs to change?

If we’re serious about solving the housing crisis, we need more than just small policy tweaks. A comprehensive, long-term strategy is needed - one that brings together planners, policymakers, and developers to create sustainable, inclusive housing solutions. Some key priorities should include:

• Streamlining the planning process to support well-designed, high-density housing in urban areas.
• Investing in social housing to provide truly affordable options for those who need them most.
• Cracking down on speculative property investment to ensure housing serves people, not just profit.
• Encouraging mixed-use developments that integrate housing with job opportunities and essential services.

Final thoughts

The housing affordability crisis isn’t just a planning issue - it’s a fundamental social challenge that affects millions of people. As an aspiring planner, I want to help create communities where everyone, regardless of their background, has access to safe and affordable housing. By embracing smart policies, innovative planning, and community-driven solutions, we can move toward a future where housing is a right, not a privilege.

The RTPI Trust was delighted to receive nearly 50 applications for its 2026 undergraduate bursaries. Applications are now closed and the five students selected for this year's bursaries have been contacted.

The Trust would love to do more and reach more. Please consider leaving a donation, however small, to support others in the planning profession.