Collection

Planning practice guidance

The National Planning Policy Framework and relevant planning practice guidance.

Published 29 November 2016
Last updated 22 October 2018 — see all updates

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012 and revised on 24 July 2018 and sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

Download the full policy document.

Planning practice guidance will, where necessary, be updated in due course to reflect changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (the new version of which was published in July 2018). Where any hyperlinks direct users to the previous National Planning Policy Framework (2012), please disregard these. If you’d like an email alert when changes are made to planning guidance please subscribe.

Where plans are being prepared under the transitional arrangements set out in Annex 1 to the revised National Planning Policy Framework, the policies in the previous version of the framework published in 2012 will continue to apply, as will any previous guidance which has been superseded since the new framework was published in July 2018.

Planning practice guidance categories

We have revised and updated planning practice guidance to make it accessible.

1. Advertisements
   • 6 March 2014
   • Guidance
2. Air quality
   • 6 March 2014
   • Guidance
3. Appeals
   • 3 March 2014
   • Guidance
4. Before submitting an application
   • 22 February 2018
   • Guidance
5. Brownfield land registers
   • 28 July 2017
   • Guidance
6. Build to rent
   • 13 September 2018
   • Guidance
7. Climate change
   • 12 June 2014
   • Guidance
8. Community Infrastructure Levy
   • 22 March 2018
   • Guidance
9. Conserving and enhancing the historic environment
   • 22 February 2018
   • Guidance
10. Consultation and pre-decision matters
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance
11. Crown development
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
12. Design
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
13. Determining a planning application
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
14. Ensuring effective enforcement
    • 22 February 2018
    • Guidance
15. Ensuring the vitality of town centres
    • 3 March 2014
    • Guidance
16. Environmental Impact Assessment
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
17. Fees for planning applications
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance
18. Flexible options for planning permissions
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
19. Flood risk and coastal change
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
20. Hazardous substances
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
21. Health and wellbeing
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
22. Housing need assessment
    • 13 September 2018
    • Guidance
23. Housing and economic land availability assessment
    • 13 September 2018
    • Guidance
24. Housing: optional technical standards
    • 27 March 2015
    • Guidance
25. Land affected by contamination
    • 12 June 2014
    • Guidance
26. Land stability
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
27. Lawful development certificates
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
28. Light pollution
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
29. Local Plans
    • 13 September 2018
    • Guidance
30. Making an application
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance
31. Minerals
    • 17 October 2014
    • Guidance
32. Natural environment
    • 21 January 2016
    • Guidance
33. Neighbourhood planning
    • 13 September 2018
    • Guidance
34. Noise
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
35. Open space, sports and recreation facilities, public rights of way and local green space
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
36. Permission in principle
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance
37. Plan-making
    • 13 September 2018
    • Guidance
38. Planning obligations
    • 19 May 2016
    • Guidance
39. Renewable and low carbon energy
    • 18 June 2015
    • Guidance
40. Rural housing
    • 19 May 2016
    • Guidance
41. Self-build and custom housebuilding
    • 28 July 2017
    • Guidance
42. Starter Homes
    • 27 March 2015
    • Guidance
43. Strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal
    • 9 February 2015
    • Guidance
44. Transport evidence bases in plan making and decision taking
    • 13 March 2015
    • Guidance
45. Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and Statements
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
46. Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas
    • 6 March 2014
    • Guidance
47. Use of planning conditions
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance
48. Viability
    • 24 July 2018
    • Guidance
49. Waste
    • 15 October 2015
    • Guidance
50. Water supply, wastewater and water quality
    • 23 March 2015
    • Guidance
51. When is permission required?
    • 15 June 2018
    • Guidance

Other planning policies

• Sustainable drainage systems policy
• Parking policy
• Starter Homes policy
• Housing land supply in Oxfordshire

1. Housing Delivery Test measurement rule book
   • 24 July 2018
   • Policy paper
2. National planning policy for waste
   • 16 October 2014
   • Policy paper
3. Planning policy for traveller sites
   • 31 August 2015
   • Policy paper
4. Planning for schools development: statement
   • 15 August 2011
   • Policy paper

Published 29 November 2016
Last updated 22 October 2018 + show all updates

1. 22 October 2018 Added a link to a user feedback survey
2. 13 September 2018 Added new guidance on 'Build to rent' and 'Plan-making'. Updated guidance on 'Housing need assessment', 'Housing and economic land availability assessment', 'Local Plans' and 'Neighbourhood Planning'.
3. 24 July 2018 Added 'Housing Delivery Test measurement rule book'.
4. 28 July 2017 Added guidance on 'Brownfield land registers' and 'Permission in principle'.
5. 29 November 2016 First published.