National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was first published on 27 March 2012 and updated on 24 July 2018, 19 February 2019, 20 July 2021, 5 September 2023, 19 December 2023 and 12 December 2024. This sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

• 1. Introduction

  Paragraphs 1 to 6

• 2. Achieving sustainable development

  Paragraphs 7 to 14

• 3. Plan-making

  Paragraphs 15 to 38

• 4. Decision-making

  Paragraphs 39 to 60

• 5. Delivering a sufficient supply of homes

  Paragraphs 61 to 84

• 6. Building a strong, competitive economy

  Paragraphs 85 to 89

• 7. Ensuring the vitality of town centres

  Paragraphs 90 to 95

• 8. Promoting healthy and safe communities

  Paragraphs 96 to 108

• 9. Promoting sustainable transport

  Paragraphs 109 to 118

• 10. Supporting high quality communications infrastructure

  Paragraphs 119 to 123

• 11. Making effective use of land

  Paragraphs 124 to 130

• 12. Achieving well-designed places

  Paragraphs 131 to 141

• 13. Protecting Green Belt land

  Paragraphs 142 to 160

• 14. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change

  Paragraphs 161 to 186

• 15. Conserving and enhancing the natural environment

  Paragraphs 187 to 201

• 16. Conserving and enhancing the historic environment

  Paragraphs 202 to 214

• 17. Facilitating the sustainable use of minerals

  Paragraphs 222 to 230

• Annex 1: Implementation

  Implementing the National Planning Policy Framework.

• Annex 2: Glossary

  Glossary of terms used in this manual.

• Annex 3: Flood risk vulnerability classification

  Information on flood risk vulnerability classification.