Response to National Planning Changes and Other Relevant Consultations

Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (July 2024)

The Government has published an open consultation named the ‘Proposed reforms to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system’ that seeks views on the Government’s proposed approach to revising the NPPF in order to achieve sustainable growth in the planning system. It also seeks views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain types of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

The Council has provided its formal response to the consultation, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Proposed reforms to the NPPF and other changes to the planning system’ (September 2024)

Consultation on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms

The consultation sought views on proposals to implement the parts of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which relate to plan-making, to make plans simpler, faster to prepare and more accessible.

The Council has provided its formal response to this consultation, which is below:

Wealden District Council Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill Consultation Response

Consultation on additional flexibilities to support housing delivery, the agricultural sector, businesses, high streets and open prisons; and a call for evidence on nature-based solutions, farm efficiency projects and diversification.

This consultation response represents Wealden District Council’s comments regarding the Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. That consultation covered the following areas:

• changes to certain permitted development rights that allow for the change of use to dwelling houses
• changes to certain permitted development rights that allow agricultural diversification and development on agricultural units
• changes to certain permitted development rights that allow for non-domestic extensions and the erection of new industrial and warehouse buildings
• changes to the permitted development right that allows for the temporary use of land to allow markets to operate for more days
• changes to the existing permitted development right that allows for the erection, extension or alteration of schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and closed prisons to also apply to open prisons
• the application of local design codes to certain permitted development rights

The Council has provided its formal response to this consultation, which is below:

Wealden District Council Permitted Development Rights Consultation Response

Wealden District Council’s Response to Planning Inspectorate (PINs) on Gatwick Airport Ltd Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project – Adequacy of Consultation Request 

Technical consultation on the Infrastructure Levy (March 2023)

The Government published an open consultation named the ‘Technical Consultation on the Infrastructure Levy’ that covers the proposed reforms to the existing system of developer contributions – Section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy – in England. This consultation will inform the design of the Levy and of regulations that will set out its operation in detail. A further consultation on the drafting of those regulations will be published in due course.

The Council has provided its formal response to this initial consultation, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Technical Consultation on the Infrastructure Levy’ (June 2023)
• Technical Consultation on the Infrastructure Levy (March, 2023) (external link)

Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy (March 2023)

The Government has published an open consultation named the ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy’ that covers a package of proposals for the reform of the planning system in England. The consultation seeks views on the Government’s proposed approach to updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It also seeks views on its proposed approach to preparing National Development Management Policies, how it might develop policy to support levelling up, and how national planning policy is currently accessed by users.

The Council has provided its formal response to the consultation, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy’ (March 2023)
• Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy (December, 2022) (external link)

Supporting defence infrastructure and the future of time-limited permitted development rights (November 2021)

The Government has published a consultation document named ‘Supporting defence infrastructure and the future of time-limited permitted development rights’.  The consultation seeks views on the future of two temporary permitted development rights for moveable structures and markets, including the benefits of the rights as they exist, and views on proposed mitigation if they were to be made permanent. The consultation also seeks views on proposed new permitted development rights for the Ministry of Defence to enable the modernisation and development of the Defence estate. The Council has provided its formal response, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Supporting defence infrastructure and the future of time-limited permitted development rights’ Consultation Document (November 2021) 

National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code (March 2021)

The Government has published a consultation document named ‘National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code’. The consultation seeks views on revisions to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and a new National Model Design Code, which provides guidance on the production of design codes, guides and design policies. The changes to the NPPF respond to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission “living with Beauty” report. The Council has provided its formal response, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code’ Consultation Document (March 2021)
• National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code (January 2021)

Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure (January 2021)

The Government has published a consultation document named ‘Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure’ that covers a package of proposals to alter the planning system. The consultation document asks a number of questions on specific policy changes, with a view to change existing national planning policy and legislation, as well as providing the Government’s approach to those issues. The Council has provided its formal response, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure’ Consultation Document (January 2021)
• Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure (December 2020)  

Planning for the Future White Paper (October 2020)

The Government has published its White Paper for planning reform named ‘Planning for the Future’ that covers a package of proposals for the reform of the planning system in England to streamline and modernise the planning process, improve outcomes on design and sustainability, reform developer contributions and reform the Local Plan process.

The White Paper asks a number of questions on those specific issues with a view to changing existing national planning policy and legislation, as well as providing the Government’s approach to those issues, including alternative options in some cases. The Council has provided its formal response to the consultation, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the Planning for the Future – White Paper Document (October 2020)
• Planning for the Future – White Paper (August 2020) 

Changes to the Current Planning System Consultation Document (October 2020)

The Government has also recently published a consultation document named ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’ that covers a package of proposals to reform the planning system, including plan-making, development management and development contributions.

The consultation document asks a number of questions on those specific issues with a view to change existing national planning policy and legislation, as well as providing the Government’s approach to those issues, including alternative options in some cases. The Council has provided its formal response to the consultation, which is below:

• Wealden District Council Response to the ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’ Consultation Document (October 2020)
• Changes to the Current Planning System – Consultation Document (October 2020)