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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2013

The National Planning Policy Framework One Year On

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP
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A discussion on the effect of the National Planning Policy Framework after a year of operation.

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Angus Walker
Angus Walker

Today's entry looks at the effect of the National Planning Policy Framework after a year of operation.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published on 27 March 2012, just over a year ago.  It replaced thousands of pages of guidance with around 60 pages and promised a step change in the efficiency of the planning system.  How has it fared over the past year?

Local plans

The first anniversary is significant because the government gave local authorities a year from the date that the NPPF came into force to get their local plans up to date or face their policies being overridden (see paragraph 214 of the NPPF).  Help was offered by the Department for Communities and Local Government to achieve this.

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