image for illustration: Chris CC BY-SA 2.0 vis Wikimedia Commons
The newly launched National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been issued, setting out the government’s policies for plan-making and for making decisions on development proposals in England and how these are expected to be applied, and is under review by the IHBC.
IHBC Vice Chair and Chair of the IHBC’s Legal Panel Lone Le Vay said: ‘The NPPF is being circulated to the Legal Panel for comment and advice.’
Roy Lewis, IHBC’S Policy Committee Chair, said: ‘The Policy committee is setting up an online gathering of interim thoughts on the NPPF, to help inform more formal discussion and assessment by the IHBC’.
Government writes:
The new NPPF sets out the government’s planning policies for plan-making and for making decisions on development proposals in England and how these are expected to be applied.
This version of the NPPF was revised in response to the National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system consultation.
This version replaces the previous NPPF published in March 2012, revised in July 2018, February 2019, July 2021, September 2023, December 2023 and December 2024.
The planning practice guidance to support the Framework is also published on GOV.UK.
The NPPF reports:
…1. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s policies for plan-making and for making decisions on development proposals in England. It is a material consideration of critical importance in both contexts. This version replaces the previous National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024.
2. The planning system should be genuinely plan-led. Preparing and maintaining up-to-date development plans should be seen as a priority for providing housing and other development in a sustainable manner. The plan-making policies in the Framework must be taken into account in preparing any part of the development plan.
3. Planning law requires that applications for planning permission be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise1. The national decision-making policies in this Framework are a material consideration in making these decisions and should be read alongside the policies in the development plan. Planning decisions must also reflect relevant international obligations and statutory requirements, as must the preparation of development plans2
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4. This chapter explains the role of the Framework, practical points on its structure and use, and an overview of the purpose of the planning system. The chapter does not contain substantive policy; the policies to be used for plan-making and decision-making are set out in the chapters that follow….
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