How can the National Planning Policy Framework be applied?

The National Planning Policy Framework is supported by the Planning Practice Guidance (1), an online resource designed to support planning officers in their application of the policy framework. It is subject to updates so make sure you refer to the most up to date version.

The Planning Practice Guidance consists of a range of categories of guidance, including healthier environments, for example through promoting:

• air quality
• active travel and physical activity
• access to healthier food
• access to high quality open spaces
• access to green infrastructure
• opportunities for play, sport and recreation

In relation to using planning to create a healthier environment, the Planning Practice Guidance on Healthy and Safe Communities (2) states:

“Planning can influence the built environment to improve health and reduce obesity and excess weight in local communities. Local planning authorities can have a role by supporting opportunities for communities to access a wide range of healthier food production and consumption choices. Planning policies and supplementary planning documents can, where justified, seek to limit the proliferation of particular uses where evidence demonstrates this is appropriate (and where such uses require planning permission). In doing so, evidence and guidance produced by local public health colleagues and Health and Wellbeing Boards may be relevant.”

The guidance states that planning policies and documents can be used to promote a healthier food environment where the evidence demonstrates that this is appropriate. Other Planning Practice Guidance on sustainable transport (3) and green infrastructure (4) should also help inform these local plan policies. In Week 4, we cover the types of evidence available and how these can be applied locally.