Planning rules, massive changes for more permissions and fewer constraints.

[saveasteading]

This is going surprisingly un-noticed in the media but is hugely consequential for landowners and developers (including smallish garden owners) and for the effect on existing communities.

 

In very brief summary....

YIMBY

Yes, in my back yard...or is i t YIYBY    to be considered in detail.

 

England only.

consultation but with the intention of swift implementation.

 

 

big developments must be near public transport esp a station.

fewer constraints on quality and style.

Infill easier.

Local opinion perhaps not much considered??

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-proposed-reforms-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system

Edited 6 hours ago by saveasteading

[kandgmitchell]

6 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

This is going surprisingly un-noticed in the media

and probably in the forum as it's under Ventilation.......

[Indy]

Haven't changes to the planning system been announced almost every year or so - with nothing really happening? I'd love to see some action in this area so people don't have to wait years to get planning (4 in our case) but am very cynical that this is more soundbites with little action to back it up. 

[FuerteStu]

Governments usually start 400+ consultations a year, 300+ bills and less than 50 acts end up getting past. 

 

This is yet another case of "i'll believe it when I see it" because even if it scrapes through, the other chamber would water it down so they could build bigger more swimming pools but we can't add an inch onto our sheds. 

 

[SimonD]

46 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

fewer constraints on quality

 crikey, I didn't think there were many constraints on this one anyway - can you imagine lower quality newbuilds going up? 

Edited 6 hours ago by SimonD

[-rick-]

Keeping my fingers crossed this makes life easier for those of us still looking for somewhere suitable.

 

Also, credit where credit is due, @Daniel H saw this first:

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by -rick-

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, kandgmitchell said:

t's under Ventilation..

Ooops. Can a clever person shift this?  In my defence the page opened without the usual checklist.

 

@Daniel H  I don't  have my settings set to see everything. so apologies for jumping in.

 

1 hour ago, Indy said:

more soundbites with little action

This feels very different. I've had a quick read  half way through the consultation document  It is very well written and I'd say by experts and realists.

Revive town centres, make sure facilities can be reached, build on all brown fields sites, a bigger proportion of affordable and accessible. etc.

 

49 minutes ago, SimonD said:

fewer constraints on quality

It doesn't mean worse building work, (all must meet building regs and space standards) simply that Planning authorities cannot impose their own view on aesthetics and increased space standards . 

Yes, it bothers me a bit that it might all be very ugly.

 

If anyone comes across any editorials etc. from the industry before I do, please point them out.

There is a lot to read if that way inclined. As I am working (voluntarily) on a Neighbourhood Plan I'm very interested. but I can't read and study it all.

[SimonD]

43 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

As I am working (voluntarily) on a Neighbourhood Plan I'm very interested. but I can't read and study it all.

 

Good luck! I used to sit on a local planning committee. That was fun 🙄 Actually, I should caveat that. It was very interesting dealing with all the applications and considering them in light of the local plan. What drove me crazy was the committee itself. Our chair was a barister who used to constantly have to remind committee members that its role was about planning law, not aesthetics, personal opinions and amateur architectural design.

[Daniel H]

I think this gets adopted via secondary legislation, so no need for Acts or votes etc. Just the department deciding/ SoS signing off.

 

It remains to be seen whether adopted Local Plans will retain their weight if there's a conflict - the NPPF should trump them if they're not aligned. 

 

It's pretty epic and marks a big shift.  Like that it starts to introduce definitions of 'substantial weight' which will help developers (us!) to fight back against LPAs. 

 

And no stress @saveasteading - great minds! 🥰

[Gus Potter]

@Daniel H

 

Have copied the link again from you other post. Well done with the commentry.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6941965758a21370f58f304e/Draft_NPPF_December_2025.pdf

 

It's heavy reading, not in my immediate bag as based in Scotland. That said, still interested in what is going on in the south. 

 

As a quick skim though the authors have possibly been infected with the woke mind virus and have lots the art of communicating in plain English.