Annex 1: Implementation
Implementing the National Planning Policy Framework.
231. The policies in this Framework are material considerations which should be taken into account in dealing with applications from the day of its publication. Plans may also need to be revised to reflect policy changes which this Framework has made.
232. However, existing policies should not be considered out-of-date simply because they were adopted or made prior to the publication of this Framework. Due weight should be given to them, according to their degree of consistency with this Framework (the closer the policies in the plan to the policies in the Framework, the greater the weight that may be given). Where a local planning authority can demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing sites (with the appropriate buffer as set out in paragraph 78 and where the Housing Delivery Test indicates that the delivery of housing is more than 75% of the housing requirement over the previous three years, policies should not be regarded as out-of-date on the basis that the most up to date local housing need figure (calculated using the standard method set out in planning practice guidance) is greater than the housing requirement set out in adopted strategic policies, for a period of five years from the date of the plan’s adoption.
233. Where a local planning authority has confirmed its housing land supply position for a year through a published Annual Position Statement that has been examined by the Planning Inspectorate against the previous version of this Framework, this position will stand until the Annual Position Statement expires.
234. For the purpose of preparing local plans, the policies in this version of the Framework will apply from 12 March 2025 other than where one or more of the following apply:
a. the plan has reached Regulation 19 82 (pre-submission stage) on or before 12 March 2025, and its draft housing requirement meets at least 80% of local housing need 83 ;
b. the plan has been submitted for examination under Regulation 22 84 on or before 12 March 2025;
c. the plan includes policies to deliver the level of housing and other development set out in a preceding local plan (such as a joint local plan containing strategic policies) adopted since 12 March 2020;
d. the local plan is for an area where there is an operative Spatial Development Strategy and the local plan has reached Regulation 19 (pre-submission stage) on or before 12 March 2025; or
e. the plan deals only with minerals and/or waste matters and has reached Regulation 19 on or before 12 March 2025; or has been submitted for examination under Regulation 22 on or before 12 March 2025.
235. Where paragraph 234 a, b, c, d or e apply, the plan will be examined under the relevant previous version of the Framework.
236. Where paragraph 234b applies, if the housing requirement in the plan to be adopted meets less than 80% of local housing need 85 the local planning authority will be expected to begin work on a new plan, under the revised plan-making system provided for under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (as soon as the relevant provisions are brought into force in 2025), in order to address the shortfall in housing need 86 .
237. Those local plans that reach Regulation 19 (pre-submission stage) on or before 12 March 2025 and whose draft housing requirement 87 meets less than 80% of local housing need85 should proceed to examination within a maximum of 18 months from 12 December 2024, or 24 months of that date if the plan has to return to the Regulation 18 stage 88 .
238. For Spatial Development Strategies, the policies in this Framework will apply to strategies that reach consultation 89 under section 335(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 after 12 March 2025. Strategies that reach this stage on or before this date will be examined under the relevant previous version of the Framework.
239. For neighbourhood plans, the policies in this Framework will apply for the purpose of preparing neighbourhood plans from 12 March 2025 unless a neighbourhood plan proposal has been submitted to the local planning authority under Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) on or before the 12 March 2025.
240. For the purposes of the policy on larger-scale development in paragraph 22, this applies only to plans that had not reached Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (pre-submission) stage at the point the version of this Framework was published on 20 July 2021 (for Spatial Development Strategies this would refer to consultation under section 335(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999).
241. The policies in the original National Planning Policy Framework published in March 2012 will continue to apply for the purpose of examining plans, where those plans were submitted on or before 24 January 2019.
242. Where plans or strategies are withdrawn or otherwise do not proceed to become part of the development plan, the policies contained in this Framework will apply to any subsequent plan or strategy produced for the area concerned.
243. The government will continue to explore with individual areas the potential for planning freedoms and flexibilities, for example where this would facilitate an increase in the amount of housing that can be delivered.
Footnotes
(82) Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. In this context “reached Regulation 19” refers to when Regulation 19 has been complied with (i.e. when the planning authority has made a copy of each of the proposed submission documents and a statement of the representations procedure available, and the statements required in Regulation 19(b) have been sent to consultation bodies).↩
(83) Calculated using the standard method in national planning practice guidance, published on 12 December 2024.↩
(83) Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.↩
(84) Calculated using the standard method in national planning practice guidance, published on 12 December 2024.↩
(85) This paragraph does not apply in relation to local plans for areas where there is an operative Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) which provides the housing requirement for relevant local areas. In these circumstances the SDS will continue to provide the housing requirement for the relevant emerging local plans.↩
(86) Set out in the most recent Regulation 19 (pre-submission stage) consultation.↩
(88) This paragraph does not apply in relation to local plans for areas where there is an operative Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) which provides the housing requirement for relevant local areas. In these circumstances the SDS will continue to provide the housing requirement for the relevant emerging local plans.↩
(89) In this context, “reaching consultation” refers to when parts (a) to (c) of section 335(2) have been complied with (i.e. when a draft Spatial Development Strategy has been prepared and copies have been made available at any prescribed places and sent to the prescribed bodies and persons).↩