As promised by the new Labour government, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is due shortly. The consultation period started on 31 July 2024 and is set to close at 11.45pm on 24 September 2024. We have summarised the main revisions below. 

It is proposed that:

• The method for calculating housing need will no longer be ‘an advisory starting point’ but a mandatory first step. The method itself is also under proposal, changing from the four-step model to two steps. 
• The ‘grey belt’ has been defined as ‘land in the green belt comprising previously developed land and any other parcels and/or areas of green belt land that make a limited contribution to the five green belt purposes’.
• If local planning authorities fail to meet housing, commercial, or other needs without changing the borders of the green belt, they shall be required to conduct a green belt review.
• Paragraph 130 of the previous NPPF is to be completely removed. The paragraph was inserted to clarify that local character can be taken into consideration when councils evaluate their capacity to satisfy their housing demands.
• Reversing 2023 NPPF changes that refer to ‘beauty’ and ‘beautiful’ in relation to well-designed development.
• Authorities ‘should ensure that their plan policies are consistent with those of other bodies where a strategic relationship exists,’ according to new paragraph 27, once the topics for collaboration have been determined.
• Changes made to the five-year housing land supply policy in December 2023, including the option to display a four-year housing land supply in some circumstances rather than a five-year one should be undone. It is proposed that the requirement be reinstated and local planning authorities add a five per cent buffer to their five-year supply of housing land.
• The provision to deliver at least ten per cent of affordable housing on major development sites will be removed. Furthermore, it is projected that the requirement to allocate a minimum of 25 per cent of affordable housing units as First Homes is set to be removed. 
• The threshold upon which solar farms are considered nationally significant infrastructure will be lifted. The alteration will result in increasing the threshold for solar projects to 150 megawatts.
•  ‘Significant weight’ will be given to the advantages associated with renewable and low-carbon energy generation, and proposals contributing to meeting a net zero future.
•  'Significant weight' also should be placed on the importance of facilitating new, expanded or upgraded public service infrastructure when considering proposals for development.
• The Infrastructure Levy, which was intended in the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, will not be implemented by the Government.
• The Government will modify the requirements for local plan intervention. It suggests that local planning authorities could face government involvement if they neglect to take the necessary steps to implement or maintain their plan.
• Planning fees will be increased, including for householder applications.
• It will be more difficult for local planning authorities to reject nurseries and prisons.

Look out for a further in-depth article on the proposals, which is coming soon. In the meantime, please contact the planning team for more information.