Planning Permission: National Security
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will issue planning practice guidance on the weight to be given to Home Office protective security assessments when determining planning applications.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning decisions should promote public safety and take into account wider security and defence requirements by anticipating and addressing possible malicious threats and other hazards. This would include any HMG led development.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to public safety and security. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
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