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Planning Policy
Between the local plan of your specific area and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) covering the country, planning policy plays an important part in the planning system. For insight into how it affects applications for planning permission and the decisions of local government and local authorities, our informative guide is here to help.
Editor at Arbtech, Rob is a content specialist who manages our ecology and arboriculture services copy to ensure it is accurate, up to date, and insightful for current and future clients.
Planning Policy Quick Summary
Planning policy is essentially the rulebook for what can be built and where.
Whether you are dealing with a local council’s specific plan or national requirements, these guidelines set the parameters for every development project in the UK.
By aligning your proposal with these policies from the start, you can avoid costly delays and create a much smoother path to securing planning permission.
Here are the key elements you need to consider:
The Local Plan
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Requirements
Navigating these regulations can feel like a minefield, but we are here to help.
Whether you need expert advice to interpret a specific policy or require technical surveys to satisfy local requirements, we provide the support you need to move your project forward with confidence.
Understanding the Relevant Policies in Planning
As a planner or developer, knowing the government’s planning policies can help with any project.
The policies act as the rulebook for what can be built and where, giving everyone involved in development tight restrictions but also marking transparent parameters.
By establishing clear standards, the policy set ensures that growth is managed responsibly while protecting our environment and heritage.
Working within the Planning Policy Guidelines
It’s important to operate strictly within the development plan, especially as aligning your planning proposal alongside the guidelines from the start will reduce the risk of costly delays.
When you stick to the rules set out in the plan-making process, it creates a far smoother path to getting planning permission. It also works to guarantee that every future development contributes positively to the local community.
Local Planning Policies
At the local level, policies are designed to meet the specific needs of your immediate area.
Your local planning authority uses the rules from local planning policies to decide whether or not a planning project is a good fit for the neighbourhood.
Local policies carry significant weight in planning decisions, often working out the balance between growth and preservation.
Local Plan
The local plan is the primary document used by local authorities to manage land use.
It identifies where new homes should be built and which areas require protection, such as the green belt.
Local plans are central to the process of getting planning applications granted in local development projects, as they provide the legal framework for what is acceptable in your borough.
Changes to the Local Plan
During plan preparation, local councils have to do their homework by carrying out an economic land availability assessment.
Since local government is always updating the goals to meet new housing needs, it’s crucial to stay in the loop.
The shifts often open the door for neighbourhood plans, which offer a far bigger say on how specific streets evolve through development.
National Planning Policies
While local rules are specific to the area, national planning policies provide the overarching vision for the entire country.
National policies ensure consistency across all development projects, with no limitation based on where they’re staged.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s requirements for the planning system.
More than anything, the central theme of national policy focuses on the presumption of favouring sustainable development over less environmentally-friendly methods.
The framework also ensures that the effective use of land is prioritised, particularly when it comes to transforming previously developed land into vibrant new spaces.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework
The NPPF isn’t set in stone, with the government regularly updating it to keep up with the times and the constantly changing planning landscape.
Recent proposed reforms often focus on levelling up underserved regions and increasing the delivery of affordable housing.
Sometimes, a written ministerial statement is issued to provide immediate clarity on a specific issue before the full framework is updated.
Whenever any major shifts occur, transitional arrangements are usually put in place to help projects already in the system adapt to the other changes.
Planning Policy Guidance
To help with interpreting the rules, the government provides updated planning practice guidance, offering further context on how the high-level rules should be applied in real-world scenarios and covering every relevant topic, such as the impact of biodiversity net gain (BNG), planning permission and the community infrastructure levy.
In addition to this, the team at Arbtech can advise planners and developers on the connection between their plans and applicable planning policy. We are always available to support developments across the country, whether that’s through advice and insight or by undertaking necessary surveys to move you closer towards getting planning permission.
Ask for Help from Our Consultants
Specific areas of planning can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. For example, it’s understandably confusing to work your way through the planning system consultation or understand how a planning policy is expected to be applied without any help.
It could be that you’re arranging a home extension, delivering the first homes in a residential development or you’ve been working in development for five years or longer. Whatever the situation, it’s always worth making sure that you know exactly what you’re doing instead of risking unexpected delays and penalties.
Our team is happy to help. Just call us, email us, fill out a quote form or visit the contact page on our website. If you give us as much information as possible, we can work out the correct steps to take and start guiding you.
The NPPF is the document that maps out the primary planning policies for England. It provides a framework for local people and their councils to produce their own distinctive local and neighbourhood plans, which reflect the needs and priorities of their communities.
A local plan is a document produced by a local council in consultation with the public. It sets out a vision and a framework for the future development of the area, addressing needs and opportunities in relation to housing, community facilities, infrastructure and the economy.
A planning policy is a formal rule or guideline that governs how land is used and developed. The policies ensure that buildings are safe, functional and situated in locations that benefit the wider public and the environment.
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