National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012.  This is a key part of government's plan to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, to protect the environment and to promote sustainable growth.

The LGA has strongly supported the principle of a simplified planning system.  However, we have very been clear that it must provide sufficient flexibility and discretion for councils to support local economic growth in every way possible and to represent the interests of their communities.  Our position has always been:

  • Councils are uniquely positioned as the democratically accountable public body to plan for their communities.
  • Local Plans are the only valid way to deal with the risks and opportunities ahead.
  • Realistic transition arrangements are essential to give councils a chance of getting up-to-date local plans in place, which ensures the local communities, are in control;
  • Ensuring a balanced approach to sustainable development within the NPPF is fundamental to allow plans to deliver the best outcomes locally.

Helpline

  • To assist with any questions that local planning authorities may have about the implications of the Framework for plan making or decision taking, a helpline from the Planning Inspectorate is available from 9am until 4pm, Monday to Friday until further notice on 0303 44 45500.

  • Alternatively you could post your query on the PAS discussion forum, at  where there are lively peer to peer discussions about planning issues.

Key documents:

Local plans and the NPPF checklist

Together with the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) we have published a self-assessment tool which will help authorities to work out where the gaps are between their own policies and the NPPF, what the risks of any inconsistencies are and what some of the mitigating actions are. This has been developed with the active involvement of the Planning Inspectorate (PINs).  

Part one of this resource (the checklist) is now available on PAS website   

LGA comprehensive briefing on the NPPF (20 April 2012)

This briefing is a follow up to the LGA's on the day briefing note on the NPPF. It addresses first some headline issues about the overall approach of the NPPF, and then goes on to consider how it deals with more specific aspects of planning policy, alongside the implications for local authorities.

LGA on the day response to the NPPF (27 March 2012)

This briefing provides our initial on the day reactions based on core issues that have been raised by our member authorities.  

 

LGA evidence to the CLG Select Committee (21 December 2011) 

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee's report into the National Planning Policy Framework, made a number of pragmatic proposals which endorsed many of the views of the LGA.  In particular: 
 
Sustainable Development – The Committee agreed with the LGA that the final NPPF must provide a better balance between economic, environmental and social issues so that elected councillors can decide weighting and trade offs between priorities at local level.  Their report also suggested that the default yes to development should be removed from the NPPF and local authorities should be encouraged to define sustainable development to their own local circumstances.  Very significantly for LGA, the committee suggests that the presumption in favour of sustainable development should be redefined as ‘a presumption in favour of sustainable development consistent with the Local Plan.' 
 
Viability – The Committee agreed with the LGA that the approach to economic ‘viability' in the draft NPPF must make "clear that calculations of viability presuppose requirements to provide infrastructure and other measures necessary to the development, not simply returns deemed acceptable by the developer." 
Guidance – The Committee agreed with the LGA that the Government must clarify what remains in terms of statutory guidance or regulation, including circulars, guidance notes and statements and where –if anywhere- they will maintain an interest in resourcing or quality-assuring.  
 
Transition Arrangements  – The Committee called on government to work closely with the LGA and local Government sector in drawing up sensible transition arrangements.  
 
The final report of the committee including the LGA's written and oral evidence is available here:

LGA response to draft National Planning Policy Framework consultation (17 October 2011)

The draft NPPF was controversial in a number of areas. Whilst supporting the simplification of the planning system, the LGA lobbied for changes from the draft. Key recommendations were:

  • Sustainable Development only makes sense at a local level.  We agree with the principle of sustainable development as defined at the beginning of the document.  The document as a whole must balance economic, environmental and social issues equally. This is important in allowing locally elected councillors the flexibility to make the necessary trade offs locally.
  • Councils must have adequate time and resource to get sensible plans and new evidence bases underpinning them in place.

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