Collection

Planning practice guidance

The National Planning Policy Framework and relevant planning practice guidance.

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• Published: 29 November 2016
• Last updated: 24 June 2021 — See all updates

The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012 and revised in 2018, 2019 and most recently 20 July 2021. It 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 categories

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

• Advertisements
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Air quality
  • 1 November 2019
  • Guidance
• Appeals
  • 3 March 2014
  • Guidance
• Appropriate assessment
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Before submitting an application
  • 15 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Brownfield land registers
  • 28 July 2017
  • Guidance
• Build to rent
  • 13 September 2018
  • Guidance
• Climate change
  • 15 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Community Infrastructure Levy
  • 4 January 2023
  • Guidance
• Consultation and pre-decision matters
  • 1 April 2022
  • Guidance
• Crown development
  • 28 July 2017
  • Guidance
• Design: process and tools
  • 1 October 2019
  • Guidance
• Determining a planning application
  • 24 June 2021
  • Guidance
• Effective use of land
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Enforcement and post-permission matters
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Environmental Impact Assessment
  • 13 May 2020
  • Guidance
• Fees for planning applications
  • 20 August 2021
  • Guidance
• Fire safety and high-rise residential buildings (from 1 August 2021)
  • 20 August 2021
  • Guidance
• First Homes
  • 23 December 2021
  • Guidance
• Flexible options for planning permissions
  • 26 July 2023
  • Guidance
• Flood risk and coastal change
  • 25 August 2022
  • Guidance
• Green Belt
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Hazardous substances
  • 1 November 2019
  • Guidance
• Healthy and safe communities
  • 7 August 2022
  • Guidance
• Historic environment
  • 23 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Housing and economic land availability assessment
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Housing and economic needs assessment
  • 16 December 2020
  • Guidance
• Housing needs of different groups
  • 24 May 2021
  • Guidance
• Housing for older and disabled people
  • 26 June 2019
  • Guidance
• Housing: optional technical standards
  • 27 March 2015
  • Guidance
• Housing supply and delivery
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Land affected by contamination
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Land stability
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Lawful development certificates
  • 6 March 2014
  • Guidance
• Light pollution
  • 1 November 2019
  • Guidance
• Making an application
  • 24 June 2021
  • Guidance
• Minerals
  • 17 October 2014
  • Guidance
• Natural environment
  • 21 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Neighbourhood planning
  • 25 September 2020
  • Guidance
• Noise
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Open space, sports and recreation facilities, public rights of way and local green space
  • 6 March 2014
  • Guidance
• Permission in principle
  • 15 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Plan-making
  • 4 October 2021
  • Guidance
• Planning obligations
  • 1 September 2019
  • Guidance
• Renewable and low carbon energy
  • 14 August 2023
  • Guidance
• Rural housing
  • 19 May 2016
  • Guidance
• Self-build and custom housebuilding
  • 8 February 2021
  • Guidance
• Strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal
  • 31 December 2020
  • Guidance
• Town centres and retail
  • 18 September 2020
  • Guidance
• Transport evidence bases in plan making and decision taking
  • 13 March 2015
  • Guidance
• Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and Statements
  • 6 March 2014
  • Guidance
• Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas
  • 6 March 2014
  • Guidance
• Use of planning conditions
  • 23 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Viability
  • 1 September 2019
  • Guidance
• Waste
  • 15 October 2015
  • Guidance
• Water supply, wastewater and water quality
  • 22 July 2019
  • Guidance
• When is permission required?
  • 26 July 2023
  • Guidance

Other planning policies

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

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

Published 29 November 2016
Last updated 24 June 2021 + show all updates

1. 24 June 2021

   Added Fire safety and high-rise residential buildings (from 1 August 2021)

2. 24 May 2021

   Added: First Homes

3. 1 October 2019

   Updated guidance on 'Design: process and tools'.

4. 22 July 2019

   added - Appropriate assessment, Effective use of land, Green Belt, Housing needs of different groups and Housing Supply and delivery

5. 26 June 2019

   Added Housing for older and disabled people

6. 9 May 2019

   Updated guidance on 'Neighbourhood planning' and 'Viability'.

7. 22 October 2018

   Added a link to a user feedback survey

8. 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'.

9. 24 July 2018

   Added 'Housing Delivery Test measurement rule book'.

10. 28 July 2017

    Added guidance on 'Brownfield land registers' and 'Permission in principle'.

11. 29 November 2016

    First published.