Planning for Constituency Cases

This note provides a short introduction to planning, mainly to assist with replying to constituency questions.

Some points in this note are inevitably over-simplified, but there are numerous links to more detailed material. Much of the note consists of Frequently Asked Questions, with answers explaining how they relate to the planning system.

On 27 March 2012, DCLG published the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It came into effect immediately, superseding the 2011 draft and almost all other planning guidance (except on waste and some of the guidance on minerals).The NPPF is the Government’s main document on planning policy. It must be taken into account in the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans, and is a material consideration in planning decisions. It sets out for example, how new housing should be calculated for an area, what sort of development is appropriate or not for Green Belt land and the considerations needed to be taken into account when deciding on renewable energy development, such as wind turbines.