National Planning Policy Framework

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Published: 27 March 2012
• Updated: 27 March 2012, see all updates

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was first published on 27 March 2012 and updated on 24 July 2018, 19 February 2019 and 20 July 2021. This sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

A new version of the National Planning Policy Framework was published on 20 July 2021.

• 1. Introduction

  Paragraphs 1 to 6

• 2. Achieving sustainable development

  Paragraphs 7 to 14

• 3. Plan-making

  Paragraphs 15 to 37

• 4. Decision-making

  Paragraphs 38 to 59

• 5. Delivering a sufficient supply of homes

  Paragraphs 60 to 80

• 6. Building a strong, competitive economy

  Paragraphs 81 to 85

• 7. Ensuring the vitality of town centres

  Paragraphs 86 to 91

• 8. Promoting healthy and safe communities

  Paragraphs 92 to 103

• 9. Promoting sustainable transport

  Paragraphs 104 to 113

• 10. Supporting high quality communications infrastructure

  Paragraphs 114 to 118

• 11. Making effective use of land

  Paragraphs 119 to 125

• 12. Achieving well-designed places

  Paragraphs 126 to 136

• 13. Protecting Green Belt land

  Paragraphs 137 to 151

• 14. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change

  Paragraphs 152 to 173

• 15. Conserving and enhancing the natural environment

  Paragraphs 174 to 188

• 16. Conserving and enhancing the historic environment

  Paragraphs 189 to 208

• 17. Facilitating the sustainable use of minerals

  Paragraphs 209 to 217

• Annex 1: Implementation

  Implementing the National Planning Policy Framework.

• Annex 2: Glossary

  Glossary of terms used in this manual.

• Annex 3: Flood risk vulnerability classification

  Information on flood risk vulnerability classification.