In December 2010 Greg Clark MP announced the Government's
intention to consolidate national planning policy in England into a
"simpler" policy framework. The draft NPPF, published on 25 July 2011, places
a presumption in favour of sustainable development at the heart of
the English planning system whilst acknowledging the need to
balance economic, social and environmental goals to achieve this
aim. It will replace all policy statements, circulars and guidance.
The draft is currently in a consultation phase which will close on
17 October 2011. The Government have stated their desire to publish
the final document by the end of the year.
The NPPF encapsulates the meaning of sustainable development in
three components: planning for prosperity; planning for people; and
planning for places and suggests that the default response by local
authorities to development proposals should be "yes".
This has sparked outrage from environmental groups with the Daily
Telegraph running a
