Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other planning system changes – December 2025
On Tuesday 16 December 2025, the Government published the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), alongside other planning system changes. This applies to England. The consultation ran until 10 March 2026.
For the third year running, December saw an updated NPPF. This one is a more radical re-write than the previous two – perhaps more so than many were expecting.
The Government also sought views on data centres and onsite energy generation, standardised inputs in viability assessments and reforming site thresholds.
Alongside working closely with our clients to advise on the implications of the changes, we have examined what the proposals mean in practice for the industry and practitioners through a series of articles providing analysis and insight, available below. Some of our insights below also represent our submitted responses to the consultation.
In this series
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Comment · 19 December 2025
Good for growth: The NPPF gets a pro-investment makeover
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Comment · 22 December 2025
Inside the draft NPPF: Government intentions at a glance
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Comment · 22 December 2025
What the NPPF’s key changes mean for housing, growth and plan-making
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Comment · 24 March 2026
All change for heritage in the NPPF…or is it?
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Comment · 7 January 2026
Could the proposed changes to the NPPF go further on net zero infrastructure?
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Comment · 9 January 2026
What next for Green Belt and grey belt: implications of the NPPF
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Comment · 21 January 2026
Where next for contextual design, townscape and placemaking in the new draft NPPF
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Comment · 5 March 2026
A changed approach to landscape policy in the draft NPPF
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Comment · 25 March 2026
The NPPF and town centres: small steps towards modernisation but not far enough
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Comment · 7 April 2026
Placemaking takes centre stage in the NPPF proposals
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Comment · 13 April 2026
From policy to investment: economic growth in the draft NPPF