National Planning Policy Framework Revision

On 19th February 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a revised National Planning Policy. This revision included minor clarifications to the July 2018 version.

Primarily the revision is in relation to Habitats and Biodiversity and relate in particular to paragraph 177 where the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply to a development planning to undertake an appropriate assessment. It now states that the presumption in favour does not apply unless an appropriate assessment has concluded that the plan or project will not adversely affect the integrity of the habitats site.

There is also a minor revision to footnote 37, relating to paragraph 73 relating for Local Authorities whose strategic policies are more than 5 years old and pointing them to calculate local housing need using the standard method set out in national planning guidance.

There are minor changes in the Glossary to the definition of Deliverable, in particular for major development sites with outline planning permission and Local Housing Need where the revised document advises that an alternative approach provided in a previous paragraph could be used in the preparation of strategic policies relating to the number of homes needed.