Draft National Planning Policy Framework

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published the Draft National Planning Policy Framework which is designed to simplify the planning process and make development less costly and more straight forward. The new framework should streamline policy to reduce planning policy from over 1,000 pages to around 52. The Framework sets out a new default of ‘yes’ to developments, given the development meets certain sustainability criteria, something the government has termed a presumption in favour of sustainable development. The Framework will also require each local authority to produce a Local Plan for its area, which will set out more specifics on a local level, with the intention of achieving higher levels of decision making and engagement with those affected by planning decisions at a local level. Speaking about the publication of the new Framework, Planning Minister, Greg Clark MP said, “Clarity in planning has become lost in translation. National planning policy and central government guidance has become so bloated that it now contains more words than the complete works of Shakespeare, making it impenetrable to ordinary people. We need a simpler, swifter system that is easier to understand and where you don't need to pay for a lawyer to navigate your way around. That's why we promised reform to make planning easier to understand and easier to use for everyone.” To coincide with the publication of the draft Framework the DCLG has also launched a public consultation to gather evidence and opinions on the new framework, interested parties are invited to submit their responses to the department by 17 October.