Consultation Launches on Proposed Changes to National Planning Policy Framework

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner has put forward proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

A consultation is open, and runs until 24th September 2024. The consultation document seeks to explain and justify the proposed changes.

The draft revised NPPF has proposed deletions highlighted in red, and additions in light blue.

Sustainable Transport

The current NPPF is quite strong on sustainable transport, but the provisions are not followed by councils and developers in practice.

Those sustainable transport provisions are to remain in force.

They include the requirement that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of development proposals, so that opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued (para 106c).

There is also no change to para 107, which says that significant development should be focused on ‘locations which are or can be made sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes’.

Para 108d will still say that planning policies should provide for attractive and well-designed walking and cycling networks with supporting facilities such as secure cycle parking (drawing on LCWIPs).

Para 114 will continue to say that applications for development should ‘give priority first to pedestrian and cycle movements, both within the scheme and with neighbouring areas’, and second to high-quality public transport.

Applications should create places that minimise the scope for conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

Vision-Led Approach

The main change as far as sustainable transport is concerned is the introduction of the phrase ‘vision-led approach’ to para 112a. It will say:

‘A vision-led approach to promoting sustainable transport modes [should be taken], taking account of the type of development and its location’.

Para 112d adds that capacity and congestion impacts from the development of the transport network should be mitigated through a vision-led approach.

A ‘vision-led approach’ is not defined in the NPPF, but the consultation document explains what is meant.

‘At present, planning for travel too often follows a simplistic ‘predict and provide’ pattern, with insufficient regard for the quality of places being created or whether the transport infrastructure which is planned is fully justified.

Challenging the default assumption of automatic traffic growth, where places are designed for a ‘worst case’ peak hour scenario, can drive better outcomes for residents and the environment. It means working with residents, local planning authorities and developers to set a vision for how we want places to be, and designing the transport and behavioural interventions to help us achieve this vision.

This approach is known as ‘vision-led’ transport planning and, unlike the traditional ‘predict and provide’ approach, it focuses on the outcomes desired, and planning for achieving them.

To support this approach, we are proposing to make amendments to paragraphs 114 and 115 of the existing NPPF.

To support the implementation of this updated policy, we will publish updated guidance alongside the policy coming into effect’.

Parking

Paras 109 and 110 (no changes proposed) concern vehicle parking.

Setting maximum parking standards is discouraged by the NPPF.

By contrast, providing large amounts of parking is likely to lead to more car ownership and car use.

Oxfordshire have therefore reduced car parking provision at residential developments. Utrecht is building a car-free neighbourhood for 12,000 people.

Should this review of the NPPF be seen as an opportunity to change the rules on provision of vehicle parking?

Other Proposed Changes

There are other proposed changes to the NPPF.

Local authorities should identify and update annually a supply of sites for housing development (para 76).

Sites for modern infrastructure like labs, gigafactories and data centres should be identified, as well as freight and logistics (para 84). This includes provision for transport innovation and decarbonisation (para 85b).

Planning policies and decisions no longer have to produce beautiful buildings, since that is subjective (para 94).

If you’re wondering about mansard roofs – yes, mansard roofs are go (para 122e).

Green Belt boundaries can be altered where a council is otherwise unable to meet the local need for development (para 142).

The revised NPPF also introduces the concept of Grey Belt land, defined in Annex 2 as land in the Green Belt which has previously been developed and/or which makes a limited contribution to Green Belt purposes.

Tree-Lined Streets

Although this is not a change to the NPPF, it is worth noting that planning policies and decisions should produce tree-lined streets (para 133).