England · National documents
National Planning Policy Framework
The August 2026 Framework sets out England’s plan-making and national decision-making policies. It replaces the December 2024 Framework and separate traveller-site policy.
AI-generated summaries of the linked official sources; not editorially reviewed. Sources and limits
Where this document applies
England: relevance depends on the proposal, site and planning process.
National Planning Policy Framework (official source, opens in a new tab) · Documents; Details
National policy and the local plan
The Framework separates plan-making policies from the national policies used to decide development proposals. Applications remain subject to the development-plan starting point, with the Framework read as a material consideration alongside relevant local policies.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Introduction, paragraphs 1–8, printed pages 3–4
Find the relevant policy family
The decision policies address procedure, location and sustainability, housing, economic development, land use, design, transport, living conditions, flood risk, nature and heritage. Their letter-and-number references replace the earlier Framework’s continuous paragraph structure.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Contents; Introduction, paragraph 5
Identify what could resolve the refusal reason
Policy DM3 addresses proportionate consideration of the proposal and whether conditions or obligations could make unacceptable development acceptable. It does not remove the need to meet the relevant policy tests or establish that a particular amendment would be sufficient.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Policy DM3, printed page 19
Check the implementation provisions
Annex A explains decision-making from publication and the separate transitions for plan preparation. It also addresses materially inconsistent local policies and their exceptions. Older local policies should not be treated as displaced simply because of their age.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Annex A, paragraphs 1–8, printed page 99
Traveller policy is now within the Framework
The official publication page confirms that this version replaces the December 2024 Framework and the separate Planning policy for traveller sites. Older source links and citations may therefore need to be followed through to the new text.
Read the official source (official source, opens in a new tab) · Document: replacement of earlier publications
Limits and checks
- This national source does not establish the local policies, designations or site facts that apply to an individual proposal.
Read alongside this document
- Planning practice guidanceDetermining a planning applicationExplains decision timescales, material considerations, decision notices and the reasoning behind planning decisions.
- Planning practice guidanceAppealsExplains planning appeal routes, decision procedures and costs applications. Start with the appeal type and the decision being challenged.
- Design guidanceNational design guideExplains the characteristics of well-designed places and provides a framework for considering the design of development.
Put the national source in your local context
Start with the exact refusal reason. Note the policy and paragraph it cites, then check your authority’s policy summary and the facts discussed in relevant appeal decisions. Each appeal turns on its own facts and does not predict another outcome.