27 Jan 2012, 4:01 pm
In October 2011, ministers confirmed that they would "put in place transitional arrangements that advantage plan making to reflect the fact that the national planning policy framework is all about putting local communities in control of planning".
"It would be wrong to allow a transitional period for authorities to get their local plans in place," said John Rhodes, a director of planning consultancy Quod. He told a National Housing Federation conference on the NPPF that it should have immediate effect.
The draft NPPF was published in July last year and has been the subject of public consultation and extensive scrutiny by the Local Government and Communities Select Committee.
Rhodes said that under-supply of housing generates a lack of affordability and that the draft NPPF recognises the full range of housing supply needs. "Unlocking [housing] supply is the key planning issue" he said.
Rhodes called for the publishing of guidance on when the NPPF would come into effect and said that the emerging policy should have immediate effect when finalised.
The Department of Communities and Local Government's director of planning Shona Dunn told the conference that there was no argument from Government that the NPPF needs to be enforced once it is finalised, Planning Resource reported.
Dunn was, however, reportedly unable give any details of possible transitional arrangements because they are still under discussion.
