Early Planning Santa (Clause?) Gifts: the new NPPF
- Neil Homer
- Dec 19, 2025
- 2 min read
We welcomed having the new draft NPPF and Planning Reform documents to look at a week earlier than expected. There’s much to digest on behalf of our town and parish clients, but the headlines are:
neighbourhood plans are here to stay, with greater clarity(ish!) on their role and status, especially
in retaining their ‘reverse titled balance’ function (currently §14)
the NPPF’s ’national decision-making policies’ (NDMPs) shouldn’t be modified or duplicated in development plans, and any inconsistency between them and existing local policies will weigh in favour of the NPPF
the basic principles of how settlement boundary policies have operated for many years are now embraced as a standard approach to shaping schemes inside and outside of settlements
a strong drive towards building around well-served railway stations, including in locations that may have been ruled out for spatial or environmental reasons in the past
a proposed approach to preparing and integrating spatial development strategies, local plans and supplementary plans though light on detail for how local planning authorities and qualifying bodies should aim to agree who will take responsibility for allocating non-strategic development sites
The consultation on the new NPPF continues until 10th March 2026.
Over the next few weeks we will delve into these documents, together with the proposals of the new Local Plan making system and other provisions of the Planning & Infrastructure Act 2025, which received Royal Assent this week. We will publish out thoughts on what this all means for how town and parish councils engage in this ever-changing system as we go.
Navigating the NPPF: Free online seminar for town and parish clerks and councillors
To help you navigate the new NPPF, the consultation and how it may impact on your parish, ONH are running a free online seminar Navigating the New NPPF: Consultation Insights for Local Councils to be held online on Tuesday 20th January from 12.30 - 1.30pm. Click the button below to sign up to attend.
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