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Planning Permission

Asked by Wendy MortonConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 23 July 2026UIN 18617

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the draft National Planning Policy Framework on the capacity of local planning authorities to refuse planning applications that conflict with locally adopted planning policies; whether he expects National Decision-Making Policies to take precedence over locally adopted development management policies in practice; and if he will publish that assessment.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

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