This page is a short summary of the current levels of planning policy in England.
Last updated: 2 July 2025
Planning policy is the main consideration in the determination of all planning applications.The local planning authority (LPA) has to take into account policies that have been created at both national and local levels when deciding whether to approve or refuse planning permission.There are currently three levels of planning policy:
The NPPF is national planning policy which is produced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. It has two main purposes – first to guide how LPAs make their local plans (plan-making) and second to assist LPAs in making planning decisions (decision-taking) where there is no up-to-date local plan to refer to.
The NPPF is also a material consideration in the determination of all planning applications, which means its policies must be taken into account when planning decisions are made.
The NPPF contains (at paragraph 11) the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, which is central to the approach taken to plan-making and decision-taking. The NPPF explains this in detail but put simply:
for plan-making, all development plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that meets the area’s needs, improves the environment and mitigates climate change
for decision-taking, it means that planning applications that meet development plan policies should be approved in a timely manner
Part 15 of the NPPF focuses on conserving and enhancing the natural environment. Take a look at paragraphs 187 to 201 to find out about the Government’s guiding principles in relation to landscapes, designated sites, biodiversity and pollution.
To learn about the principles that LPAs should apply when making planning policies and decisions that affect nature, take a look at paragraphs 192 to 195 which focus on habitats and biodiversity.
Every LPA must produce an up-to-date local plan setting out planning policies for its area. Local plans include policies that allocate areas of land for certain types of development, together with development management policies that planning applications are assessed against.
Preparation and adoption of a local plan involves a lengthy process that can take several years. Local plans can vary quite significantly from one area to another but the NPPF requires each one to contain up-to-date strategic planning policies that are in accordance with the NPPF.
A local plan is part of what is known as ‘the statutory development plan’ which is at the heart of the planning system. It’s a legal requirement for planning decisions to be made in accordance with this statutory development plan.
See our guide to local plans to find out more about this process (link below).
Supplementary planning documents (SPDs) provide more detail and context on certain aspects of policies in an adopted local plan. They can be a useful tool for developers and local communities as they can explain how policies can be taken forward and provide practical examples. For example, many LPAs have adopted SPDs on biodiversity to provide further guidance to developers on how to make their planning applications more nature-friendly (eg, by installing Swift bricks in new housing).
SPDs do not form part of the statutory development plan and cannot introduce new planning policies. However, they are an important consideration in determining planning applications.
Neighbourhood planning is not compulsory. Parish councils, and in unparished areas neighbourhood forums, may produce a neighbourhood plan setting out planning policies for the neighbourhood area, but they are not under a duty to do so. Neighbourhood plans for a particular area are usually listed and available to view on the LPA’s website.
Where one exists a neighbourhood plan is also part of the statutory development plan.
See our guide to neighbourhood planning to find out more about this process (link below).
