PLANNING COMMITTEE
BRIEFING
National Planning Policy Guidance
(NPPG), and
New Permitted Development Rights
NATIONAL PLANNING
POLICY GUIDANCE (NPPG)
 Provides guidance to the NPPF (National Planning
Policy Framework).
 Available From:
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http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/
 Totally online resource (but you can print it
easily).
 Regularly(?) updated.
 Email alerts of guidance changes available for
whichever section(s) you wish.
THE NPPG REPLACES…
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58 Good Practice Guides
40 Circulars
40 Letters
8 Procedures / Protocol Documents
6 ‘Notes’
4 PPGs/PPSs
Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Planning Policy Statements
 (25 of these were superseded by the NPPF)
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…WITH…
 41 Sections
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Advertisements
Air Quality
Appeals
Before Submitting an Application
Climate Change
Conserving and Enhancing the Historic
Environment
Consultation and Pre-Decision Matters
Crown Development
Design
Determining a Planning Application
Duty to Cooperate
Ensuring Effective Enforcement
Ensuring the Vitality of Town Centres
Environmental Impact Assessment
Flexible Options for Planning Permissions
Flood Risk and Coastal Change
Hazardous Substances
Health and Wellbeing
Housing and Economic Land Availability
Assessment
Land Affected by Contamination
Land Stability
Lawful Development Certificates
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Light Pollution
Local Plans
Making an Application
Minerals
Natural Environment
Neighbourhood Planning
Noise
Open Space, Sports and Recreation Facilities,
Public Rights of Way and Local Green Space
Planning Obligations
Renewable and Low Carbon Energy
Rural Housing
Strategic Environmental Assessment and
Sustainability Appraisal
Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and
Statements in Decision-taking
Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in
Conservation Areas
Use of Planning Conditions
Viability
Water Supply, Wastewater and Water Quality
When is Permission Required?
 …and…
…THERE ARE STILL:
 37 Circulars
 33 Good Practice Guides, and
 Planning Policy Statement 10: Waste Management
 But the NPPG is a useful and concise tool that is
easy to use and easy to digest.
EACH SECTION IS SPLIT INTO
QUESTIONS
REGULARLY UPDATED
 One can sign up to email alerts through the
website, which is a great feature.
 Regularly updated:
Providing clarity, accuracy and precision for decision making,
being able to respond to changes in circumstance, or;
 Too many changes could create confusion, and the ability to
change guidance is potentially open to abuse.
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 Perhaps the process will replicate ‘Letters’?
 There is certainly a balance to be reached and
time will tell.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS
 In total there are now 35 amendment Statutory
Instruments to the General Permitted
Development Order 1995
 I will cover
Changes that came into force 30 May 2013
 Changes that come into force in April 2014
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 Disclaimer: The following is not comprehensive –
each Permitted Development Right comes with
certain limitations and conditions before they can
be exercised, and should be checked against the
legislation on a case by case basis.
PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS (1)
 Residential Permitted Development
Available between 30 May 2013 and 30 May 2016
 8m detached, 6m all other houses
 Prior approval process required including neighbour
consultation
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 Conversion of Offices to Residential
Available between 30 May 2013 and 30 May 2016
 Prior approval process required, Local Planning Authority to
consider traffic, flooding and contamination
 Planning permission required for external works
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 Change of use of Agricultural Buildings
To A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services), A3
(restaurants and cafes), B1 (business), B2 (storage or
distribution), C1 (hotels), or D2 (assembly and leisure)
 Prior approval process required if greater than 150m2
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PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS (2)
 Flexible Uses
Allows one to temporarily change the use for up to two years
 From, Classes A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional
services), A3 (restaurants and cafes), A4 (drinking
establishments, Class A5 (hot food takeaways), B1 (business),
D1 (non-residential institutions) and D2 (assembly and leisure)
 To, Class A1 (shops), Class A2 (financial and professional
services), Class A3 (restaurants and cafes) or Class B1
(business)
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 Changes of Use of Buildings and Land to State
Funded Schools
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From, B1 (Business), C1 (Hotels), C2 (Residential Institutions),
C2A (Secure Residential Institutions) or D2 (Assembly and
Leisure)
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
FROM APRIL 2014 (1)
 Change of use from shops (A1) and financial &
professional services (A2) to dwellinghouses (C3).
(A1 or A2, to C3)
This change of use will not apply to land protected by Article
1(5) of the General Permitted Development Order (National
Parks, the Broads, areas of outstanding natural beauty,
conservations areas, World Heritage Sites)
 Prior notification allowing Local Planning Authority to protect
local services
 No further permission required for ‘building operations
reasonably necessary to convert the building’
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 Shops (A1) will be able to change to banks,
building societies, credit unions and friendly
societies, within the A2 use class.
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This does not cover betting shops or payday loan shops.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
FROM APRIL 2014 (2)
 Conversion of agricultural buildings on a farm will
be able to change to provide houses
Up to 450 square metres can be converted
 Maximum of 3 houses
 This change of use will not apply in Article 1(5) land, for
example:
 National parks
 Areas of outstanding natural beauty.
 Conservation Areas
 Prior approval process required which will allow for flooding
issues to be addressed
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PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
FROM APRIL 2014 (3)
 Extend the existing permitted development rights
for change of use to state-funded schools to
additionally cover registered nurseries.
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ie B1, C1, C2, C2A, D2 to registered nurseries.
 Agricultural buildings up to 500 square metres will
also be able to change to state-funded schools or
registered nurseries.