Applies to England

Read the full outcome

Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system: government response

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What people think of changing the planning rules for England (Easy read)

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Public Sector Equality Duty assessment on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework

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Detail of outcome

This document summarises the findings of this consultation and sets out the government’s response.

An updated National Planning Policy Framework has also been published.

Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system.

This consultation ran from 3pm on 16 December 2025 to 11:45pm on 10 March 2026

Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

A draft NPPF has been published alongside this consultation and both documents should be read together.

We are also seeking views on:

data centres and onsite energy generation

standardised inputs in viability assessments

reforming site thresholds

Our attention has been drawn to an error in the consultation document regarding policy TC4 in the NPPF. On page 56 of the consultation document the final paragraph regarding TC4 incorrectly states -‘we are not proposing that a failure against the test is regarded as an automatic basis for refusing planning permission’. This paragraph has subsequently been updated as of 29 January 2026 to rectify this error. This change only affects the consultation document and not the draft NPPF text. We have contacted those who have submitted a response, alerting them to the error and giving them, the opportunity to submit a revised response.

Annex B of the consultation document asks questions about standardised inputs in viability assessment. Question 202a refers to ‘market-led development’, which has been clarified to refer to ‘market for sale housing’.

On page 106 regarding transitional arrangements, we have removed the sentence ‘Therefore, the draft Framework sets out that due weight should be given to development plan policies relative to the consistency with the Framework’ for clarity.

We have also updated the ‘Questions on Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system’ document to include the correct sub-questions for questions 27, 28, 54, 169 and 201 as included in the consultation document.

Documents

National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system

National Planning Policy Framework: draft text for consultation

Questions on Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system

MS Word Document, 78.2 KB

Changing the planning rules for England: What do you think? (Easy read)

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Updates to this page

12 November 2026 Added Easy Read version of the consultation response.

Added Easy Read version of the consultation response.

17 August 2026 Government response to the consultation and Public Sector Equality Duty assessment added.

Government response to the consultation and Public Sector Equality Duty assessment added.

2 February 2026 Added Easy read version of the consultation - Changing the planning rules for England: What do you think? (Easy read).

Added Easy read version of the consultation - Changing the planning rules for England: What do you think? (Easy read).

29 January 2026 Our attention has been drawn to an error in the consultation document regarding policy TC4 in the NPPF. On page 56 of the consultation document the final paragraph regarding TC4 incorrectly states -‘we are not proposing that a failure against the test is regarded as an automatic basis for refusing planning permission’. This paragraph has subsequently been updated as of 29 January 2026 to rectify this error. This change only affects the consultation document and not the draft NPPF text. We have contacted those who have submitted a response, alerting them to the error and giving them, the opportunity to submit a revised response. Annex B of the consultation document asks questions about standardised inputs in viability assessment. Question 202a refers to 'market-led development', which has been clarified to refer to 'market for sale housing'. On page 106 regarding transitional arrangements, we have removed the sentence ‘Therefore, the draft Framework sets out that due weight should be given to development plan policies relative to the consistency with the Framework’ for clarity. We have also updated the ‘Questions on Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system’ document to include the correct sub-questions for questions 27, 28, 54, 169 and 201 as included in the consultation document.

Our attention has been drawn to an error in the consultation document regarding policy TC4 in the NPPF. On page 56 of the consultation document the final paragraph regarding TC4 incorrectly states -‘we are not proposing that a failure against the test is regarded as an automatic basis for refusing planning permission’. This paragraph has subsequently been updated as of 29 January 2026 to rectify this error. This change only affects the consultation document and not the draft NPPF text. We have contacted those who have submitted a response, alerting them to the error and giving them, the opportunity to submit a revised response. Annex B of the consultation document asks questions about standardised inputs in viability assessment. Question 202a refers to 'market-led development', which has been clarified to refer to 'market for sale housing'. On page 106 regarding transitional arrangements, we have removed the sentence ‘Therefore, the draft Framework sets out that due weight should be given to development plan policies relative to the consistency with the Framework’ for clarity. We have also updated the ‘Questions on Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system’ document to include the correct sub-questions for questions 27, 28, 54, 169 and 201 as included in the consultation document.

16 December 2025 First published.

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