The Government has published its revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to boost the construction of better-designed and better quality homes across the country.

The revised document, which follows a public consultation launched by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this year, will better empower communities on how developments should look and feel, as well as making it easier for councils to challenge poor quality and unattractive schemes.

With plans to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, key excerpts of the paper include;

• promoting high quality design of new homes and places

• stronger protection for the environment

• building the right number of homes in the right places

• greater responsibility and accountability for housing delivery from councils and developers

Secretary of State for Communities, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said: "Fundamental to building the homes our country needs is ensuring that our planning system is fit for the future.

"This revised planning framework sets out our vision of a planning system that delivers the homes we need. I am clear that quantity must never compromise the quality of what is built, and this is reflected in the new rules.

"We have listened to the tens of thousands of people who told us their views, making this a shared strategy for development in England."


Welcoming the new NPPF, Deputy Chief Executive of Trafford Housing Trust, Larry Gold, said the Trust is "strongly supportive" of a new housing delivery test for local authorities.

"This policy is vital to ensure there is greater focus in areas such as the North West, where there is significant demand for homes," he said.

"At the same time, the Government must work with local authorities to ensure targets are achievable.

"We are in favour of the renewed focus on the quality and design of new properties. Trafford Housing Trust's private developer arm, Laurus Homes, partners with leading architects and places a strong emphasis on engaging with local community groups so we understand what local communities want and need in terms of infrastructure, green spaces and the local services. Housing developers need to create places, not just new homes."

Mr Gold added: "While we agree that housing developers need to exhaust brown field sites and existing areas in need of regeneration, the chronic housing shortage will inevitably means that local authorities need to consider building on green belt sites to ensure the pace and scale of development we need."

Mark Russell, Executive Director of Planning at the Mineral Products Association, welcomed the NPFF recognising a sufficient supply of minerals to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods that the country needs is essential.

"The continuing need for mineral planning authorities to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates and industrial minerals reinforces the fact that supply cannot be assumed, but needs to be planned, monitored and managed to ensure that the right minerals are made available in the right place and at the right time to support Government's priorities around housing and infrastructure," he said.

However, the National Federation of Builders (NFB) criticised the Government for rolling back changes as included in the draft NPPF, with Chief Executive Richard Beresford stating the Government has "proven to be much less ambitious than it had originally aspired to".

"Cutting the small sites requirement to 10% is a clear sign that the revised NPPF is not radical thinking but ponderous progress," he said.

"Despite some positives, 99% of the construction industry has been overlooked. The Government has missed a golden opportunity to put this country on the road to addressing its housing crisis and solving the broken housing market."

To view the National Planning Policy Framework, visit here.

(LM/MH)