Housing

Housing

National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s national policy in England. First adopted in 2012, it has been replaced several times since with revised versions, most recently in December 2024. The NPPF recognises that to significantly boost the supply of homes, it is important that a sufficient amount and variety of land can come forward where it is needed, that the needs of groups with specific housing requirements are addressed and that land with permission is developed without unnecessary delay. The overall aim should be to meet as much of an area’s identified housing need as possible, including with an appropriate mix of housing types for the local community.

The NPPF states that to determine the minimum number of homes needed, strategic policies should be informed by a local housing need assessment, conducted using the standard method in Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). In addition to the local housing need figure, any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas should also be taken into account in establishing the amount of housing to be planned for.

The size, type and tenure of housing needed

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Latest Planning News

Planning weekly highlights—6 November 2025

This week’s edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a Court of Appeal case upholding a £200,000 fine for cutting down trees protected by a TPO; a High Court case on service of enforcement notices in multi-occupier sites; a High Court case on the grant of an injunction to restrain unlawful rebuilding and hardstanding on sensitive land; a call for evidence on placemaking and community building in new towns; PINS’ response to MHCLG on flexibility in local plan examinations; PINS 2025 stakeholder survey results and operational improvements announcements; and a tender notice for AI-augmented planning decision tool.

Court of Appeal clarifies liability and sentencing for serious breaches of TPOs (R v Chamdal)

Planning analysis: In R v Chamdal, the Court of Appeal held that in relation to offences under section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), courts may impose deterrent, means-related fines, treating the offence as strict liability with at least negligent culpability where owners fail to check tree preservation order (TPO) coverage and obtain consent. It upheld a £200,000 fine for causing or permitting the cutting down of at least 132 trees as proportionate, stressing that harm includes the scale and amenity/biodiversity impact of felling and that reliance on contractors or the absence of financial motive does not significantly mitigate.

Planning injunction granted to restrain unlawful rebuilding and hardstanding on sensitive land (Wealden District Council v Devall)

Planning analysis: In Wealden DC v Devall, the High Court held that the owners’ rebuilding of a derelict barn and creation of extensive hardstanding on environmentally sensitive land were building/operational works amounting to ‘development’ for which planning permission was required. Applying the South Bucks framework in section 187B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), the court treated the breaches as deliberate and granted a final injunction with mandatory restoration as a necessary and proportionate response to prevent rapid residential occupation and uphold planning control.

Court confirms enforcement notice can be validly served by fixing it to main entrance of multi-occupier site (Turner v SSHCLG)

Planning analysis: In Turner v SSHCLG, the High Court held that for enforcement under sections 172 and 329(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) , 'premises' ordinarily means the whole planning unit, so fixing a notice conspicuously to a site's main entrance of a multi-occupier site validly serves occupiers. Practically, this confirms that local planning authorities can serve enforcement notices at a site's main access point without needing to affix copies within each individual occupier's compound, provided the notice is clearly visible and reasonably likely to come to occupiers' attention.