Annex 1: Implementation
Implementing the National Planning Policy Framework.
224. The policies in this Framework are material considerations which should be taken into account in dealing with applications from the day of its publication. 79 Plans may also need to be revised to reflect policy changes which this Framework has made.
225. However, existing policies should not be considered out-of-date simply because they were adopted or made prior to the publication of this Framework.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).
226. From the date of publication of this revision of the Framework, for decision-making purposes only, certain local planning authorities will only be required to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide a minimum of 4 years’ worth of housing (with a buffer, if applicable, as set out in paragraph 77) against the housing requirement set out in adopted strategic policies, or against local housing need where the strategic policies are more than 5 years old 80 , instead of a minimum of 5 years as set out in paragraph 77 of this Framework. This policy applies to those authorities which have an emerging local plan that has either been submitted for examination or has reached Regulation 18 or Regulation 19 (Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012) stage, including both a policies map and proposed allocations towards meeting housing need. This provision does not apply to authorities who are not required to demonstrate a housing land supply, as set out in paragraph 76. These arrangements will apply for a period of two years from the publication date of this revision of the Framework.
227. The policies in the original National Planning Policy Framework will apply for the purpose of examining plans, where those plans are submitted on or before 24 January 2019. Where such plans are withdrawn or otherwise do not proceed to become part of the development plan, the policies contained in this Framework will apply to any subsequent plan produced for the area concerned.
228. For the purposes of the policy on larger-scale development in paragraph 22, this applies only to plans that have not reached Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (pre-submission) stage at the point the previous 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).
229. For the purposes of the policy on renewable and low carbon energy and heat in plans in paragraph 160, this policy does not apply to plans that have reached Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (pre-submission) stage, or that reach this stage within three months of the date of publication of the previous version of this Framework published on 5 September 2023. For Spatial Development Strategies, paragraph 160 does not apply to strategies that have reached consultation under section 335(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 or that reach this stage within three months of the date of publication of the previous version of this Framework published on 5 September 2023.
230. The policies in this Framework (published on 19 December 2023) will apply for the purpose of examining plans, where those plans reach regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (pre-submission) stage after 19 March 2024. Plans that reach pre-submission consultation on or before this date will be examined under the relevant previous version of the Framework in accordance with the above arrangements. For Spatial Development Strategies, this Framework applies to strategies that have reached consultation under section 335(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 after 19 March 2024. Strategies that reach this stage on or before this date will be examined under the relevant previous version of the Framework in accordance with the above arrangements. 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.
231. 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.
(79)As an exception to this, the policy contained in paragraph 76 and the related reference in footnote 8 of this Framework should only be taken into account as a material consideration when dealing with applications made on or after the date of publication of this version of the Framework. ↩
(80) Unless these strategic policies have been reviewed and found not to require updating. Where local housing need is used as the basis for assessing whether a four year supply of specific deliverable sites exists, it should be calculated using the standard method set out in national planning guidance. ↩