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National Planning Policy Framework Reform

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is undertaking comprehensive reform of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to streamline planning processes, enhance local decision-making, and clarify affordable housing definitions. The reform is being pursued through multiple bills including the Housing and Planning (Local Decision-Making) Bill and Direct Planning (Pilot) Bill, with a government review underway and working papers on infrastructure planning. The initiative is in active development with assessments of impacts on community involvement and housing affordability.

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2026

5 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the report published by TYI on 18 March 2026, titled ‘Small Changes, Big Rewards: Ensuring planni

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the report published by TYI on 18 March 2026, titled ‘Small Changes, Big Rewards: Ensuring planning connects with mobile infrastructure ambitions’.

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on the nu

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on the number of intensive livestock farms.

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2026, to Question 120664, on Travellers: Caravan sites, how the changes to the National

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2026, to Question 120664, on Travellers: Caravan sites, how the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on traveller sites are …

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying the definition of affordable housing types s

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying the definition of affordable housing types set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 1 April (HL15919), whether the National Planning Policy Framework contains strong protections for the

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 1 April (HL15919), whether the National Planning Policy Framework contains strong protections for the setting of the Stonehenge World Heritage site from vans

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2025

11 events
16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government should set out how the NPPF and PIB comply with the EPPS, in line with sections 17 and 19 of the Environment Act 2021. Two complete and separate statements should be shared with the Committee—one for the NPPF and one for the PIB—in response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)

The Government should set out how the NPPF and PIB comply with the EPPS, in line with sections 17 and 19 of the Environment Act 2021. Two complete and separate statements should be shared with the Committee—one for the NPPF …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

Within 12 months of this report, the Government should establish a shared geospatial and environmental data platform, integrated with a case working system. This should be designed for use across government departments, arms-length bodies and local planning authorities to aid decision-making and collaboration. It should be maintained by a cross- 85 departmental team. We note that mechanisms to consolidate and share data–such as the National Land Data Framework and MAGIC (Multi-Agency Geograph...

Within 12 months of this report, the Government should establish a shared geospatial and environmental data platform, integrated with a case working system. This should be designed for use across government departments, arms-length bodies and local planning authorities to aid …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

We have heard strong and repeated concerns that the environment could be sidelined in the presumption for sustainable development, and that the current revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could result in unsustainable and speculative development. The evidence we received suggests that the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as currently framed, prioritises economic growth over environmental protection, leading to outcomes that are inconsistent with the long...

We have heard strong and repeated concerns that the environment could be sidelined in the presumption for sustainable development, and that the current revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could result in unsustainable and speculative development. The evidence …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government do more to ensure that local planning authorities are able to, and do, produce up to date local plans, to ensure that developments are being assessed by appropriate local policies, rather than being subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)

We recommend that the Government do more to ensure that local planning authorities are able to, and do, produce up to date local plans, to ensure that developments are being assessed by appropriate local policies, rather than being subject to …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government should amend the definition of the presumption in favour of ‘sustainable development’ in the December 2024 revision of the NPPF to give greater weight to environmental sustainability. This should include strengthening safeguards against environmentally unsustainable, unplanned and speculative development. These revised definitions should be provided to the Committee in the Government’s response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 45)

We recommend that the Government should amend the definition of the presumption in favour of ‘sustainable development’ in the December 2024 revision of the NPPF to give greater weight to environmental sustainability. This should include strengthening safeguards against environmentally unsustainable,

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

Stakeholders highlighted the importance of alignment between a national Land Use Framework, environmental policies and planning policies. Such alignment will help direct housing developments and nature conservation or restoration to appropriate locations. It will also help reduce confusion, avoid conflicting objectives, and support coherent decision-making and streamlined delivery. Crucially, it will provide clarity surrounding the application of planning rules and help prevent spurious chall...

Stakeholders highlighted the importance of alignment between a national Land Use Framework, environmental policies and planning policies. Such alignment will help direct housing developments and nature conservation or restoration to appropriate locations. It will also help reduce confusion, avoid co

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

Major developers should submit whole life carbon assessments as part of planning applications to local authorities; this should be mandatory for all major developments, as defined in the NPPF. The Government should consult on ways to financially incentivise housing development to lower full lifecycle carbon, such as introducing a levy on new build properties containing higher levels of lifecycle carbon alongside reduced taxation on lower carbon homes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 146)

Major developers should submit whole life carbon assessments as part of planning applications to local authorities; this should be mandatory for all major developments, as defined in the NPPF. The Government should consult on ways to financially incentivise housing development …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

The revised NPPF does not contain explicit reference to embodied carbon, despite a widely held opinion that the NPPF must play a central role in supporting low-carbon housing. This oversight limits the NPPF’s ability to minimise carbon emissions from new buildings and undermines efforts to meet the UK’s emission reduction targets. (Conclusion, Paragraph 152)

The revised NPPF does not contain explicit reference to embodied carbon, despite a widely held opinion that the NPPF must play a central role in supporting low-carbon housing. This oversight limits the NPPF’s ability to minimise carbon emissions from new …

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16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

The December 2024 revision of the NPPF should be updated to include clearer and stronger expectations on embodied carbon for new developments. The current Government should also honour the promise made by the previous Government and conduct a consultation on how embodied carbon should be measured and reduced in UK buildings, potentially through Building Regulations, without compromising levels of operational carbon; this consultation should commence no later than March

The December 2024 revision of the NPPF should be updated to include clearer and stronger expectations on embodied carbon for new developments. The current Government should also honour the promise made by the previous Government and conduct a consultation on …

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17 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

Viability assessments are financial appraisals submitted to LPAs by developers, that establish whether a site is viable by examining whether the value likely to be generated by the development is more than the cost of developing it, including ‘suitable’ profits for developers. Planning practice guidance states that, for the purposes of plan making and for individual negotiations, a profit margin of 15% to 20% may be considered suitable. Developers can submit a viability assessment alongside t...

Viability assessments are financial appraisals submitted to LPAs by developers, that establish whether a site is viable by examining whether the value likely to be generated by the development is more than the cost of developing it, including ‘suitable’ profits …

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17 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

There is an asymmetry of skills, capacity and resources between LPAs and developers that means LPAs often struggle to challenge developers’ claims in viability assessments. Additionally, land values vary significantly across the country, so in some local areas, particularly less affluent areas, developers can argue that sites are not viable. Viability assessments are 28 Qq 44–45 29 Letter from the Permanent Secretary, 9 July 2025 30 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.9, 2.10 31 Letter from the Permanent ...

There is an asymmetry of skills, capacity and resources between LPAs and developers that means LPAs often struggle to challenge developers’ claims in viability assessments. Additionally, land values vary significantly across the country, so in some local areas, particularly less …

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2024

1 event
24 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We support the Minister for Housing and Homelessness’s call for local authorities to assess their local need for M4(3) wheelchair user standard homes. However, we do not believe that the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) goes far enough to match this ambition. At the next NPPF review, the Government must include an explicit requirement for local authorities to assess the local need for homes at M4(3) wheelchair user standard. The NPPF should also encourage local authoriti...

We support the Minister for Housing and Homelessness’s call for local authorities to assess their local need for M4(3) wheelchair user standard homes. However, we do not believe that the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) goes far enough to …

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2023

7 events
14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

National planning policy has been characterised by stop-start reform over several years. This has regrettably resulted in uncertainty among local authorities and across the planning sector. Contrary to the Government’s objective of facilitating plan- making, the short-term effect of its announcement of proposed planning reforms (6 December 2022) has been to halt the progress of local plans in a number of local authority areas.

National planning policy has been characterised by stop-start reform over several years. This has regrettably resulted in uncertainty among local authorities and across the planning sector. Contrary to the Government’s objective of facilitating plan- making, the short-term effect of its …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government must see the merit in pausing plans for further reform, in order to allow for a period of stability in which reforms already introduced can be properly implemented, and any lessons from that implementation learned.

The Government must see the merit in pausing plans for further reform, in order to allow for a period of stability in which reforms already introduced can be properly implemented, and any lessons from that implementation learned. Type: recommendation | …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government has not been clear on the timetable for its many planning consultations and when its reforms will be implemented. Nor has the Government sufficiently evaluated the impact of its past NPPF changes to inform its current reform proposals. There is a strong case that the Department should conduct impact assessments of past NPPF changes, which would inform future reform proposals. Given that the Department is currently considering 26,000 responses to the December 2022 consultation, ...

The Government has not been clear on the timetable for its many planning consultations and when its reforms will be implemented. Nor has the Government sufficiently evaluated the impact of its past NPPF changes to inform its current reform proposals. …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government should urgently conduct and publish impact assessments on all future NPPF changes. It should take a more strategic approach to future consultations, including publishing timelines for the implementation of its proposed reforms. (Paragraph 22) The national housing target

The Government should urgently conduct and publish impact assessments on all future NPPF changes. It should take a more strategic approach to future consultations, including publishing timelines for the implementation of its proposed reforms. (Paragraph 22) The national housing target …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

In line with its previous commitment to us, the Government must publish its own comprehensive analysis, as part of its response to the December 2022 consultation, to demonstrate how the proposed changes to the NPPF will facilitate delivering 300,000 Reforms to national planning policy 37 net new homes per year, including the evidence base for each of those proposed changes. The response to the December 2022 consultation containing this analysis should be produced by the end of September 2023;...

In line with its previous commitment to us, the Government must publish its own comprehensive analysis, as part of its response to the December 2022 consultation, to demonstrate how the proposed changes to the NPPF will facilitate delivering 300,000 Reforms …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

If the NPPF reforms, once they have been implemented, do result in a reduction in housebuilding, the Minister for Housing and Planning should write to us as soon as this becomes apparent, and should explain whether the Government intends to keep the national housing target by making further NPPF revisions, or maintain its policy of advisory local targets at the expense of building 300,000 net new homes per year, or take other action in response.

If the NPPF reforms, once they have been implemented, do result in a reduction in housebuilding, the Minister for Housing and Planning should write to us as soon as this becomes apparent, and should explain whether the Government intends to …

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28 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We welcome the Government’s decision to review the National Planning Policy Framework but are concerned that the proposed changes do not go far enough to encourage the new onshore wind capacity the country needs. The planning system needs to give more weight to critical infrastructure, such as onshore wind, that is in the national interest. If the Government’s proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework do not result in a substantial increase in the amount of onshore wind devel...

We welcome the Government’s decision to review the National Planning Policy Framework but are concerned that the proposed changes do not go far enough to encourage the new onshore wind capacity the country needs. The planning system needs to give …

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2021

4 events
29 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the planning system give a larger role to sustainability than is the case in the current planning system. We welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure it contributes to climate action, but the Net Zero and Heating and Buildings strategies could have said more about the ability of local authorities to use the planning system to shape their commun...

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the planning system give a larger role to sustainability than is the case in the current planning system. We welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the …

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29 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

As previously stated, we welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure it contributes to climate mitigation, but we are concerned that in the meantime some councils will continue to grant planning permission to development that locks people into car dependency. In the short term, the Government should clarify the need for sustainable transport and placemaking to be embedded in all new development. In the longer term, it should amend the N...

As previously stated, we welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure it contributes to climate mitigation, but we are concerned that in the meantime some councils will continue to grant planning permission to …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We were concerned to hear from organisations related to electricity, nuclear and water infrastructure about the challenges posed by the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government should explain how it sees vital infrastructure being affected by its proposals. This should include whether there would be special designations for such infrastructure and whether it will be possible to comment on different specific infrastructure proposals. It should also explain how infrastructure providers wil...

We were concerned to hear from organisations related to electricity, nuclear and water infrastructure about the challenges posed by the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government should explain how it sees vital infrastructure being affected by its proposals. This should include …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We recognise the value of neighbourhood plans. They should have a significant role in the development of new Local Plans. To be effective they need to be up- to-date and representative of the whole community and a clear part of the new framework. Local authorities and existing neighbourhood forums need to strive to ensure a representative range of voices are heard in the production of neighbourhood plans, and there should be a timeframe for producing and revising them to ensure they remain re...

We recognise the value of neighbourhood plans. They should have a significant role in the development of new Local Plans. To be effective they need to be up- to-date and representative of the whole community and a clear part of …

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