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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.
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The upkeep and repair of historic buildings: The use of Sections 47, 54, 55 and 76 of the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990
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Ministerial performance measures for The Planning Inspectorate
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Housing Delivery Test: 2021 measurement
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PPG updated: When is permission required?
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First Homes: Model Section 106 Agreement (for developer contributions)
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.
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Supporting defence infrastructure and the future of time-limited permitted development rights: government response
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Independent review into scaling up self-build and custom housebuilding: government response
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Compulsory purchase - compensation reforms: consultation
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Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
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Town Centre Action Plan Review - Joint response from Scottish Government and COSLA
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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Time will tell
Given that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is set to be banned from 2030 the prospects for the redevelopment of a site in rural Wiltshire might look better in a few years’ time... -
Porch-like qualities
Have you ever wondered, in your quieter moments, about the defining characteristics of a porch? What is the critical difference between a porch and an extension? A recent appeal decision... -
The climate of opinion
In determining a residential appeal in south Devon (DCS Number 400-033-313 ), an inspector identified one of the main issues as being the extent to which the development would respond...
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Policy & Legislation News
Updated: Gove confirms primacy of bill's national development management policies over local plans
Housing secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that the government's proposed new national development management policies document "would have precedence in the event of conflict" with a local plan, but said he expects "such conflicts to be limited in future".
Impact of housing need uplift could be a ‘double disaster’ for city, Betts tells minister
The 35 per cent “urban uplift” to housing need requirements in England’s biggest cities and towns is likely to cause “unnecessary building on greenfield sites”, the chair of the levelling up select committee has told the housing minister in Parliament.
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
Slashing compulsory purchase payouts to landowners may not be as good an idea as it sounds, by Joey Gardiner
Plans to make the compulsory purchase process less generous might not deliver the cheaper public-sector backed development the government is looking for
The challenges that the government's proposed requirement for authority-wide design codes will present to councils
The new levelling up bill would legally mandate councils to produce design codes across their entire area and allow ministers to intervene if they fail to comply. Commentators have voiced concerns that authorities might struggle to find the resources and skills to produce effective codes, particularly over such large areas.
Why the levelling up bill might weaken strategic planning arrangements
The new levelling up bill intends to scrap the little-loved duty to cooperate and make it easier for neighbouring councils to prepare joint spatial plans. But experts fear that the changes are likely to actually weaken cross-border strategic planning arrangements.
Why the government’s proposed planning fee increase is likely to fall short in addressing the council resourcing crisis
While both councils and developers have welcomed the news that the government intends to increase application fees by more than a third, practitioners say that even this substantial increase will not be nearly enough to address the crisis in local authority planning team resources.
Bill lacks the big stick needed to bring councils around the table, by Catriona Riddell
The levelling up bill lacks the mechanism for solving cross-boundary housing numbers spats that would be needed to secure more widespread local plan coverage
What the proposal to scrap the five-year housing land supply target for up-to-date plans will mean for councils and developers
The government’s proposed removal of the five-year housing land requirement supply for councils with up-to-date local plans could see almost half of all English local authorities benefit, Planning research suggests. Observers say the move will incentivise more authorities to get plans in place, but examining inspectors are likely to take a tougher line on the deliverability of proposed housing targets and site allocations.
The big changes to planning enforcement proposed by the government, and what they would mean for you
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill includes a range of proposed changes to the planning enforcement system. Some practitioners have warned that while the measures might increase enforcement activity and paperwork, they may be less effective in remedying actual harms or improving planning outcomes, especially without additional resourcing.
What the levelling up bill would mean for plan-making
The implications of the bill’s proposal to strip out all but the most locally-specific development management policies from local plans, while giving them more weight in the decision-making process.
