Our response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework
During September 2024, the government ran a consultation on revising the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) designed to facilitate sustainable growth in the planning system. The proposed NPPF reforms aim to support the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes by implementing a standard method for assessing housing needs.
Transport and land-use planning are tightly linked. Transport East welcomed the consultation as it provides the opportunity to influence the delivery of sustainable transport as an integral part of future economic and housing development. This is essential if the region and country are to achieve sustainable growth and net zero emissions by 2050.
We strongly believe that STBs have the capability to help government understand the region’s transport needs to support the future of sustainable growth within the planning system.
The key points to our response are summarised below.
Delivering a vision led approach to transport planning: The current legislation only provides an advisory role for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to engage with Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) at the development application stage. We propose LTAs have a more formal role in advising LPAs on the transport impacts of proposed developments. There needs to be a clear, enforceable criteria to ensure that both individual developments and the broader local growth plans contribute to sustainable development.
We also ask for an integrated and vision-led approach for planning that links to the visions and strategies set out in regional strategic transport plans, and that they are considered much earlier within the planning process.
A duty to cooperate with Local Transport Plans and Sub-national Transport Bodies: Consideration needs to be given to delivering regionally and locally strategic transport infrastructure and services in advance of significant planned development.
Transport East is keen to work with government to identify and support delivery of key infrastructure to enable the ambitious short-term housing targets for the East region.
Delivering sustainable growth: The identification of growth locations should be considered at a county and regional level to identify the most sustainable locations, either with existing or improved infrastructure and services.
Understanding the sustainable capability of locations should be considered at the ‘call for sites’ stage and inform the prioritisation of sites to be brought forward.
Freight: A range of freight needs should be considered in planning stages, including warehousing, operations, HGV driver facilities and sites for refuelling and recharging alternatively fuelled vehicles going forward. Consideration should be given to ensuring that all industry needs are met.
As the East’s Sub-national Transport Body, our regional integrated Transport Strategy sets out priorities for delivering net zero and improved integrated transport for businesses and people. The region’s Strategic Investment Programme set out priorities for investment in the region.
We have the tools and data to help assess sustainable growth from a people perspective, which could help identify sustainable locations for new towns. Examples of this include analysed mobile phone data that can provide regional and local understanding of journeys to support plan development and site delivery, and our connectivity studies and modelling can provide evidence of the strategic infrastructure needed to enable growth.
The joint STB Wider South East Freight Forum can also provide a platform for engaging with the freight and logistics industry to inform detail of the proposed changes to the NPPF.
You can read our full response here: Transport East’s NPPF response