Planning policy

All local planning authorities (LPAs) are required by law to:

• prepare a development plan and
• keep under review matters that affect the development of their area.

The law requires that planning applications should be determined in accordance with the plan, which contains planning policies relating to the local area. As a result, its contents are the primary consideration in any development proposal.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out guidance on the government's approach to planning policy and how that approach is expected to be applied. Where a plan does not provide specific guidance on a particular matter, the provisions of the NPPF will apply. As such, it is a material consideration in determining planning applications. 

This section is maintained by Pearce Gunne-Jones of Terence O’Rourke Ltd.

RICS standards: Assessing viability in planning under the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 for England

Feature: NPPF: a new direction

isurv section: Planning bulletin