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This page gives a rundown of the main proposals in Labour’s National Planning Policy Framework, and what it could mean for ordinary citizens. If you work in local government or a planning-adjacent industry and are looking for the nitty-gritty of what the NPPF means for you, you might prefer to read Planning Reform 2024 Update: What Planners Need To Know About The NPPF
Labour’s update to The National Planning Policy Framework has changed some of the measures introduced in Michael Gove’s 2023 December update, showcasing the government priorities for planning over the next five years.
Here’s what you need to know about what these changes to planning practice guidance mean for you.
What is the NPPF?
The National Planning Policy Framework, or NPPF for short, is essentially the big book of guidelines for how land is used in England. Local councils use it to:
- Make decisions on whether to approve or reject planning applications
- Create future-proof plans for where housing, public services, and major infrastructure should be built
If the NPPF isn’t followed, the central government has the power to step in and make things right.
But the NPPF is more than just a playbook for councils and government. It’s a crucial document for private sector developers because it helps them write planning proposals that live up to sustainable development rules. A developer that follows the NPPF faces fewer roadblocks and lower admin costs before their project is shovel-ready.
It’s also a good read for regular citizens like you and me! Let’s say you want to build that new electric car charging point, conservatory, or roof extension you’ve always dreamed of — the NPPF gives you an idea of whether you’ll obtain planning permission or not.
Or, if you’re simply interested in what’s happening in your community, the NPPF explains why local plans are the way they are, and how you can have your say.
2024 Update to the NPPF
The first version of the NPPF was published in 2012 to simplify the labyrinthine set of planning documents used at the time — and since then, it’s undergone six revisions to reflect priorities of different governments.
During the 2024 election period, Labour promised a “blitz of planning reform” as foundational to achieving their manifesto pledges:
- More Affordable Homes: Labour have set a target of 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.
- Public Services Fit for the Future: Labour aims to open 3,000 new nurseries for young children, and build new prisons to house criminal offenders.
- A Zero-Carbon Electricity Grid: Labour pledges to phase out fossil fuels by 2030 and create 650K jobs across the country under their Green Prosperity Plan.
- A Nation of “Builders, not Blockers”: To achieve all of the above, Labour hopes to free up new land for development, cut down planning application times, and make the UK a more attractive place for private investment.
On the 30th July, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government released a draft NPPF update document. The draft is open for public consultation, meaning the government is listening to public feedback and will respond ahead of a final version in late September.
If you don’t fancy reading all 84 pages, we’ve summarised 5 key takeaways below…
1. Planning Practice Guidance for the Homes we Need
One of the biggest changes in the NPPF update is the return of mandatory housing targets, reversing the advisory system put into place under the previous government.
The goal is universal local plan coverage — essentially ensuring each council has an up-to-date neighbourhood plan for where new homes will be built. The new national target will also be set at 370K new homes per year, so every local planning authority will have their work cut out in the coming months…
But it’s not just about building more homes; it’s about building them in the right places to address housing needs. Labour has rejigged the formula to place a greater emphasis on housing affordability. In practice, smaller towns & cities, particularly in the North of England, will now have higher housing targets, while London’s target has been adjusted downwards.
Importantly, while the government sets these overall targets, choosing the actual locations for new housing requires significant local input (and geospatial data).
This is where you come in!
Councils are still legally required to consult with residents on viability and how to achieve “best value” for land use — ensuring housing developments don’t just tick boxes but genuinely meet the needs of your community.
2. A Vision for Well-Designed Towns & Cities
The NPPF update takes a more practical approach to urban design. In a highly-publicised move, the government is scrapping all references to “beauty” and “beautiful” that were added to the NPPF just last year by Michael Gove. They argue these terms were too subjective and difficult to enforce.
Rather, the emphasis will be on adhering to the established National Model Design Code — or even better, using local guidelines on architecture and building materials. This could mean more local consultation at an earlier stage, as councils scramble to create local design codes in keeping with the aesthetic and historic character of their respective areas.
The government also wants a major rethink of how we approach transport planning. Ditching the old “predict and provide” model — which often prioritised cars over other forms of transport — the new NPPF champions a “vision-led” approach. In particular, they think offering safe and accessible active travel options is key to encouraging happy and healthy urban lifestyles.
3. A New Look at Land Classification: Brownfield, Grey Belt and the Green Belt
Brownfield and Green Belt land are well known terms, but Labour’s NPPF update has introduced a new category called “Grey Belt” that will impact planning practice guidance on where homes can be built.
Brownfield sites refer to places ripe for rebuilding – like abandoned factories or derelict land.
Green Belt land on the other hand was meant to protect the countryside, preventing urban sprawl and instead encouraging development on previously built-on areas.
However, not all land designated as Green Belt is created equal, at least in Labour’s eyes.
The newly introduced Grey Belt land refers to that in the Green Belt that doesn’t truly serve its purpose and could be suitable for new development. This could include areas that are run-down, fail to prevent urban sprawl, or are already dominated by urban uses.
4. A “Positive Expectation” to Build Industry, Renewables, and Public Services
One of the main purposes of the NPPF since its inception has been to create a “presumption in favour” of sustainable development up and down the country. It might not sound like much, but in planning policy those choice of words matter!
Labour’s NPPF update is notable for the use of a few more phrases like this. For instance, there is now a “positive expectation” that councils will include suitable sites for digital infrastructure in their local plans — including labs, gigafactories, and data centres.
They’re also offering developers an alternate route for planning applications to be decided by the central government, although still subject to the approval of local people through public consultations.
The new NPPF also encourages councils to give “significant weight” to planning applications that would contribute to public services or a net-zero future. This means proposals for renewable energy, new hospitals, schools, prisons, and childcare facilities should be looked upon favourably, and approved unless there are incredibly strong reasons to reject them.
This, alongside a lifting of the de-facto ban on new on-shore wind, shows a real willingness to unblock planning for climate response.
5. Encouraging Density: Lifting Restrictions on Homeowners
Thinking of building upwards? The next NPPF could make it easier. Previously, planning rules were particularly strict about things like mansard roof extensions — often only allowing them if another property on the street already had one. These restrictions were relaxed by Gove’s NPPF update in 2023, and the incumbent government is taking it even further.
Labour wants to make all types of upwards extension more achievable for homeowners, as long as it blends in with the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.
This has already worked to great effect in some London boroughs, where similar planning policies have boosted housing density in areas of high demand. The government hopes to replicate these successes on a national level and roll out a new wave of “gentle density” in our towns & cities.
Conclusion: Planning Practice Guidance Under Labour
To wrap up, Labour’s NPPF update touches all corners of England’s land use policy; from housing to industry and the natural environment. It’s hoped that these far-reaching reforms will be enough to meet the equally ambitious targets set in their 2024 manifesto. Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: regular people will be a part of the conversation at every step.
Now is your chance to have your say on these proposed changes. The NPPF’s consultation period runs until late September, giving everyone an opportunity to share their views and help shape the future of their communities.
If you’d like to leave feedback on any of the proposals in the revised National Planning Policy Framework, please respond via the government’s Citizen Space consultation page.
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Citizen Space is the go-to platform for connecting governments with citizens. If you’d like to learn more about how our software streamlines public engagement and provides planners with enriched geospatial data, book a free demo and we’ll walk you through it.
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