National Planning Policy Framework
Member Briefing
1st May 2012
Mark Russell
Planning Advisory Service
Planning Advisory Service
• Part of Local Government Association
• Training and support, learning events and online
resources
• Help local authorities understand and respond to
planning reform
• Free of charge
?
Agenda
• Purpose for session:
• Introduction to NPPF
• Summary produced
• What next?
• Seeking any outstanding questions in
order to produce FAQ’s
• Email address for queries
• New areas of work – CV team
• National training/briefings/advice to come
Introduction to the
National Planning Policy Framework
• Status
• Sustainable development – 3 Dimensions and
12 Core Principles
• Plan making
• Development management
• Housing
• Implications for Cotswold District
Status
• A statement of national policy
• Local and neighbourhood plans
must take account of it
• A material consideration in planning decisions
• Sits within existing legislative framework –
Localism Act, Planning Acts, etc.
• Replaces all PPSs, PPGs, MPGs, Circular
05/05, Letters to CPOs
Sustainable development
• Presumption in favour of Sustainable
Development
• Definition? Policies in NPPF “taken as a whole”
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Planning system has 3 dimensions:
An economic role
A social role
An environmental role
An economic role
Town centres
and shopping
Jobs
Landscape
Training
A social role
Affordable
housing
scheme Southrop
New
development
and design
An environmental role
Trees
Landscape/
countryside
Conservation
Biodiversity
3 Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Economic
Social
Environmental
•Seek to achieve them: ….“jointly and simultaneously”
•Take local circumstances into account
Constant tension of ‘balancing’ growth agenda with protection of
the built and natural environment
12 Core Principles
• A plan-led system through local and
neighbourhood plans
• A creative exercise
• Respond positively to growth
• Seek high quality design
• Take account of different roles and characters
of areas
• Support transition to low carbon economy
12 Core Principles
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Conserve and enhance the natural environment
Reuse previously developed land
Promote mixed use development
Conserve heritage assets
Support public transport, walking and cycling
Deliver community and cultural facilities
Plan led system - Local plans
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Starting point for decision making
Must be consistent with NPPF
Can be reviewed in whole or part, but keep uptodate
Put in place as quickly as possible, to provide strategy
for neighbourhood plans
Proactively engage with the community – a collective
vision
Set out strategic priorities
Meet the “full, objectively assessed needs” of the area
Integrate approach to housing, employment and other
uses
Plan led system - Implementation
• Due weight to be given to existing plan policies
• Depends upon the degree of consistency with
the NPPF
• Planning team assessing existing policies
• From March 2012, can give weight to emerging
plans, depending upon
1. Stage of preparation
2. Significance of objections
3. Degree of consistency with NPPF
Current Development plan
• RPG10 (until revoked)
• Glos Structure Plan (until
revoked)
• Cotswold District Local Plan
• Minerals and Waste Local Plans
• “Saved policies”
• Cotswold new Local Plan (Core
Strategy)
• Draft documents
A plan-led system – The Duty to Cooperate
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With neighbouring authorities (and two tier authorities)
On cross boundary issues
On “larger than local” issues – e.g. strategic priorities
Consider different geographic areas e.g. travel-to-work
areas
• Different ways suggested:
• 1) Joint committee
• 2) Jointly prepared strategy
• 3) Memorandum of understanding
• Provide evidence of continuous co-operation – a test
A plan-led system – Neighbourhood plans
• Must be consistent with NPPF
• Must reflect and support Local Plan strategic priorities
• Cannot promote less development than in Local Plan
• Once in place, takes precedence over non-strategic
policies in Local Plan
• Email enquiries:
neighbourhood.planning@cotswold.gov.uk
Decision making
• Seek to approve applications for sustainable
development
• Determine applications in accordance with the
development plan
• “unless material considerations indicate otherwise”
• The NPPF is a material consideration
• Encourage pre-application discussions
• Publicise information requirements
• Consider planning performance agreements
• Encourage community engagement
• Cotswold DC working with communities to shape
schemes
What….
How….
Five year land supply
• Local authorities must maintain 5 year supply of housing land
• + 5% buffer “to ensure choice and competition in the market”
• +20% buffer “where…a record of persistent under delivery”
• Sites identified in Local Plan to 2011
• Can consider windfall sites if “compelling evidence” of supply
• Currently, Cotswold District has c.4 years supply - shortfall
• Dynamic situation –reviewed annually
• Strategy being devised to combat current/ future shortfall
Key issues for
Cotswold District Council
• What does Sustainable Development mean for
the Cotswolds?
• AONB status/weight
• Design – how promote/judge good Quality
• Infrastructure required to support (CIL)
• Housing (& Gypsy and Traveller) need and
delivery
• Local Plan Status
What next?
National
NPPF has reduced policy down to 59 pages only,
but…..
1. National policy statements for major
infrastructure
2. National Waste Management Plan for England
3. Planning policy for traveller sites
4. Technical guidance on flood risk and minerals
5. Further technical guidance to come…
What next?
National
• NPPF contains 7 different definitions of “weight”
• Need for guidance and support
• New enhanced role for Planning Advisory Service
www.pas.gov.uk
• Package of support being developed
• Likely to be a number of appeals and legal
challenges
What next?
Local
Cotswold DC planning team:
• Assessing consistency of existing policies with the NPPF
• Looking at potential of windfall sites to help with housing supply
• Bringing forward a new Local Plan (Core Strategy)
• Working with communities to help shape development
• Working with councillors to understand the changes to the
planning system
• Putting together FAQs
• Further questions? NPPF@cotswold.gov.uk
National Planning Policy Framework
Member Briefing
1st May 2012
Mark Russell
Planning Advisory Service