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Policy & Legislation
Policy, legislation and guidance produced by the government or its designated bodies. Use adopted sections if you wish to see only policy or legislation in force or emerging sections if you are looking for consultation documents where central government is inviting opinion prior to the implementation of policy or legislation.
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Adopted Policy & Guidance
Here you will find the most recently published government policy and guidance. These are all documents that have been adopted upon publication.
Adopted Legislation
Locate adopted legislation including Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments/Rules.
Consultations & Emerging Policy
Latest consultations and reports on government policy and guidance.
Legislation In Progress
Track the progress of legislation through the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments as well as the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies.
Fresh thinking on the DCP blog
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Flame test
Q: What do you call Fireman Sam when he is retired? A: Sam. Somewhat more seriously, an inspector dealing with an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for four flats... -
Money no object
Regular readers might have noticed that the DCP Blog has been running a bit of a thread on the essential need test for farm dwellings (see Plus ça change…. ). An inspector who sanctioned... -
No worries
An inspector dealing with an appeal against the refusal of a prior approval application for the residential conversion of a redundant agricultural building at a Sussex farm under Schedule...
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Policy & Legislation News
Government pledges 'strengthened' planning guidance to boost social housing
The government is to 'strengthen' planning guidance to encourage new affordable homes 'to be designed to the same high quality as other tenures and well integrated within developments', according to its social housing green paper, published today.
How the NPPF revisions would change the system, Part 3: design quality
In the latest of a series of briefings on the final revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), we look at its policies on design standards and examine responses from key sector organisations.
Key Topics
Guidance and legislation documents, news and in-depth coverage of key policy areas.
Briefing Notes
Parliamentary briefing documents on adopted and emerging policy/legislation
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Implementation of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 - Briefing paper
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Housing and Planning Bill: Report on Committee Stage
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Solar Farms: Funding, planning and impacts
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Nationally significant infrastructure projects and housing: briefing note
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Housing and Planning Bill briefing paper published
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Planning for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Briefing Paper
Policy & Legislation In Depth
Legal Viewpoint: Framework opens the door for entry-level exceptions
The recently revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduces the new concept of 'entry-level exception sites' into planning.
How NPPF viability changes put councils in a stronger position
Changes to national planning policy on viability assessments are likely to turn up the heat on applicants and strengthen the hand of local authorities, say observers.
How standard method rethink could impact on plan-making
The government's announcement of a review of its standard method of assessing housing need creates uncertainty and could delay local plan preparation, say commentators.
Legal Viewpoint: Framework offers clarification, simplification and focus on homes delivery
Three of the main issues the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on Tuesday, is designed to address are the numerous high-profile court judgments on issues of interpretation, the need to simplify housing requirements and the imperative to achieve quicker delivery.
Five key changes to national guidance
The government last month updated its national Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) with some amendments to reflect the latest legislative developments. Below we summarise five key changes outlined in the new guidance.
Policy Summary: What the airports national policy statement means for Heathrow and beyond
POLICY: Airports National Policy Statement: New Runway Capacity and Infrastructure at Airports in the South East of England.
Legal Viewpoint: Mitigation measures excluded from habitat screening stage
A European court ruling has overturned the UK position that planning authorities may take mitigation measures into account in determining whether an appropriate assessment is required under the Habitats Regulations.
Why removal of a funding cap could spark a new generation of development corporations
Changes to the regulations allowing locally led new town development corporations should incentivise more authorities to pursue the new powers, say experts, as four Essex councils announce that they are set to create the first such body.
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