Issue - meetings

The Government launched a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on the 16 December 2026. The proposals are a substantive update to the NPPF which includes comprehensive changes to the document structure and format with most chapters being split between ‘plan making policies’ and ‘decision making policies’ and the inclusion of a series of new annexes providing detail on the standard method for housing and grey belt assessment.

There are a significant number of changes proposed, these include:

·         Stating that where local plan policies are inconsistent with national decision-making policies they should be given limited weight.

·         Providing national policy to guide the content of spatial development strategies (SDSs); a new tier of strategic planning.

·         That housing and mixed-use development around train stations defined as ‘well- connected’ will not be considered inappropriate.

·         Proposing that plots around train stations should be built out at a density of at least 40 dwellings per hectare, rising to 50 where the station is “well-connected”.

·         Introducing a medium-size site category into the planningsystem, whichwill coverdevelopments ofbetween 10-49homes, withan area of up to 2.5ha in size.   

·         Proposing a revision of the weight given to the consideration of the potential effect of a development proposal on a designated heritage asset from “great” to “substantial”.