The Draft National Planning Policy Framework - Responding To The Consultation

Since the election in May 2010, the Government, and in particular the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles have portrayed the planning system as insufficiently sensitive, on one hand, to local opinion and the needs of local communities, and on the other hand to the needs of "the market" and the ability of new development to contribute to stimulating growth.  After various skirmishes, in particular in relation to the premature emasculation of regional planning, the department for communities and local government have now published, in draft, their National Planning Policy Framework.  This document aims to square the circle, but also to replace 47 policy and other documents, which are proposed to be cancelled when the final version of the NPPF is published.