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What we do

National Planning Policy Framework

The government has distilled hundreds of pages of planning regulations and guidelines into a concise 52 page document, which is currently in draft form.

A key plank of the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ – ie sensible development should be allowed to go ahead unless there are very good reasons why it shouldn’t.

We largely support the document and the way it will streamline the planning process. We believe that the country desperately needs new homes and that the economy needs to grow. The current planning system can hinder such development; its proposed replacement will encourage it.

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What's the issue

Although it has been welcomed by many, the draft document has caused a tidal wave of opposition from countryside groups, who are concerned that the framework will encourage unhindered development of precious countryside. We believe their concerns are misplaced, based on a selective reading of the framework.

The framework perpetuates the existing protection for green belts and a full local authority consideration and approval process. It also allows neighbourhood groups to have a role in the decision making process. However, the authorities and groups must have produced plans for their areas so that any proposed development can be assessed against the provisions of the plans.

Where no approved plans exist, the provisions of the draft NPPF will apply, with the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

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Why is it important

The current planning process is excessively cumbersome and can lead to the delaying, and unnecessary refusal, of development proposals. It can also lead to unnecessary expense for applicants and local authorities.

A ‘nimby’ (not in my back yard) attitude exists in many places, blocking much needed development. Many councils do not have approved local plans in place and have not addressed the questions of how much new development is needed in their areas and where it should go. We are pleased that the draft NPPF encourages those councils without plans to create them.

To help the country dig itself out of its current malaise, the government needs to encourage development. On the residential front, for example, far too few new homes have been built in recent years, turning a general housing shortage into a housing crisis. While there is widespread recognition that the country needs more houses, they have to go somewhere.

As development will not be appropriate everywhere (for example in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty), the draft NPPF requires adjacent councils to co-operate with each other, so that the local demands for new housing can be met.

The NPPF, when finalised and approved, will be an important step in the streamlining of the planning process.

What we're doing about it

We are encouraging the government to stand firm as we believe much of the criticism of the draft NPPF is unfounded and some is deliberately vexatious. At the same time, we recognise that it is not a perfect document. For example, we believe that the previous policy of developing brownfield land before greenfield sites should be continued in the NPPF.

Contrary to some opinion, we were not involved in writing the draft NPPF. Like other organisations, we will be responding to the government consultation on behalf of our members, and will suggest ways we feel it could provide some of the safeguards the anti-lobby seek without prejudicing its support for growth.

NPPF contact

Ghislaine Trehearne

Senior Policy Officer

gtrehearne@bpf.org.uk

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BPF in the news - 13/02/12
Financial Times - Planning reform row set to reignite

Press release - 21/12/11
British Property Federation welcomes call to end “bombsite Britain” tax

BPF in the news - 18/11/2011
Planning - Property chief slams core strategy absences

BPF in the news - 17/10/2011
Inside Housing - Councils urged to draw up development plans

Press Release - 17/10/11
Brownfield first has ‘social and economic benefits too’ but is reliant on tax relief, BPF tells inquiry

Consultation response - 17/10/11
Our response to the consultation on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework