Updated NPPF finally issued, just in time for Christmas!

The latest document makes significant changes to the September 2023 version and includes revised policy with respect to the following:

• Councils are no longer required to maintain a five-year land supply, if they have an adopted Local Plan that is less than five years old and that Plan identifies a five-year supply of sites. Additionally, Councils are only required to identify a four-year supply of housing land if their draft local plan reached an advanced (Regulation 18) stage.

• The standard methodology for housing need is now only an “advisory starting point”,  suggesting that Councils do not necessarily have to follow it when preparing local plans, but rather that it is an aspiration.

• Support for small sites to come forward for community-led development for housing and self-build and custom-build housing.

• Increasing the level of protection from the presumption afforded by neighbourhood plans from two to five years post adoption, provided they identify at least one housing site.

• Clarification that there may be situations where higher densities would be wholly out of character with the existing urban area.

• Strengthening policies around achieving well-designed and beautiful places.

• Requiring Councils to prepare Local Design Codes.

• No longer a requirement for Councils to review or change Green Belt boundaries when Local Plans are being prepared or updated.

• Requirement for Councils to give significant weight to the need to support energy efficiency and low carbon heating improvements to existing buildings, both domestic and non-domestic.

• Strengthening policies on Biodiversity.