All hail the NPPF!

Informer Bites

• Hot date!
• Energy Performance Certificates - finally getting some bite?
• Land Registry introduces new procedures to protect property from fraud
• Dilapidations claims  – follow the protocol…
• Unintended consequences?
• All hail the NPPF!

The Government has just published its new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Over 1000 pages of planning policy and guidance have been replaced by a document of less than 60 pages. It introduces a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which should prevail except where policies in the NPPF indicate that the presumption should be restricted (for example, preserving the Green Belt) or where adverse impacts would significantly outweigh the benefits of the proposal.

Detailed planning policies are now replaced by broad principles to guide planning authorities. While this should lead to a streamlined planning system in due course, it is possible that planning authorities used to detailed policy will take some time to adjust to operating within the broad principles in the NPPF. This may lead to delay (or even judicial challenges) as developers and planning authorities explore the extent of the new policy framework.

For further information, please contact John Bowman in the Planning and Environment team at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP.