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National Level Guidance for England

The resources listed below provide an up-to-date account of planning guidance in England. We have also pulled out the relevant elements that relate to specialist housing for older people to help you navigate the key references to housing for older people. Please note that there is a different policy background in place for Wales (see our dedicated Housing LIN Cymru pages)

National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012) along with the National Planning Practice Guidance sets the background at national level for development in England and replaces Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance (PPG). It contains a useful definition of older people within the glossary stating:

"People over retirement age, including the active, newly-retired through to the very frail elderly, whose housing needs can encompass accessible, adaptable general needs housing for those looking to downsize from family housing and the full range of retirement and specialised housing for those with support or care needs"

The main objective of the NPPF is to provide for sustainable development including meeting the needs of present and future generations. There is an emphasis on Local Plans being underpinned by evidence of local housing needs of different groups including older people and providing for the housing that they require.

Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation

In a major boost for communities across the country, the government has today confirmed changes to planning rules, including turbocharging charging growth with new, mandatory targets for councils to ramp up housebuilding across the country. The planning overhaul seeks to tackle the chronic housing shortage with a rise from 300,000 to 370,000 homes a year from five years to six years but is silent on housing for an ageing population.

National Planning Policy Framework: December 2024

The National Planning Policy Framework was revised in response to the Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the Planning system consultation on 12 December 2024 and sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework

This consultation seeks views on our proposed approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework in England in order to achieve the government’s ambition for sustainable growth in the planning system.

Unpacking the impact of the revised NPPF on housing delivery

Written by Mark Slater, Design Director at WWA, this Housing LIN guest blog highlights key relevant changes to the revised NPPF and provides a view of how they may impact housing delivery.

Revised National Planning Policy Framework - December 2023

The government has published its revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied.

National Planning Policy Framework (2019)

This revised Framework replaces the previous National Planning Policy Framework published in March 2012, and revised in July 2018.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2 Review 2019

The sequel looks more like Weekend at Bernie’s 2 than the Godfather – Part 2 for age friendly housing, but with a renewed mindset the bad reviews may not matter.

LGA briefing on the NPPF

This briefing provides a summary of some of the key changes to the revised NPPF from the version consulted on earlier this year.

National Planning Practice Guidance

Published in March 2014, and updated in March 2015, this supplements the NPPF and seeks to guide development on a number of more technical issues, expanding the overarching policies contained within the NPPF.

The importance of good design is included within the "Design" chapter and includes consideration of the improvements to the well-being of people through good design. This links with the chapters on "Health and Wellbeing". It is stated that the guidance should provide commissioners, providers and developers with the tools they need to engage with Local Planning Authorities to promote healthy communities and support appropriate health infrastructure.

National Planning Practice Guidance (opens new window)

National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: Consultation Proposals – It’s a Beautiful World or it will be soon…

In his latest blog for the Housing LIN, John Sneddon, Tetlow King Planning’s Managing Director, talks about the proposed changes to the recent planning consultation from the specialist housing and care sector perspective.

Planning for the Future White Paper: What future plans for housing our ageing population?

In this guest blog John Sneddon, Tetlow King Planning’s Managing Director, outlines what the White Paper covers and what to respond on, and also shares his disappointment that the White Paper failed to recognise the housing needs of our ageing population.

Guidance on housing for older and disabled people

Guidance from MHCLG for councils in preparing planning policies on housing for older and disabled people.

A new approach to developer contributions

This report by the Community Infrastructure Levy Review Group sets out to assess the extent to which CIL does or can provide an effective mechanism for funding infrastructure.

Housing and Planning Bill 2015-16

In October 2015, the government published a bill which seeks to kick-start a "national crusade to get 1 million homes built by 2020" and transform "generation rent into generation buy." The supply-side...

Planning for Housing

It is generally accepted that not enough new homes are being built to meet growing need. This briefing paper by the House of Commons library sets out how local authorities are directed to plan for housing,...

Briefing on the Changes to the 2015 Planning Practice Guidance, relating to Housing for Older and Vulnerable People

This briefing by Tetlow King Planning outlines recent changes to the government's Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) originally published in March 2014. It discusses and explains the recent changes made...

Housing - optional technical standards (accessibility & wheelchair housing standards)

In March 2015, following consultation on accessible design standards, the government issued guidance on how planning authorities can gather evidence to set optional requirements and the nationally described...

Briefing Note for ARCO - The National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) and Care Accommodation for Older People

The Association of Retirement Community Operators have published a summary of the recent changes concerning older people's housing in the NPPG (National Planning Practice Guidance). Written by Tetlow...

Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England

The Housing Strategy for England (November 2011) also launched the "New Deal for older people's housing" demonstrating the government's commitment to encouraging new models of providing specialist housing for older people. It seeks to ensure that housing and planning policies reflect the need for a wide range of specialist housing solutions for the ageing population. "Good housing for older people can enable [older people] to live healthy, independent lives and reduces pressure on working families in caring for older relatives. It can also prevent costs to the NHS and Social Care. For some older people a move to a smaller, more accessible and manageable home can also free up much-needed local family housing." (Paragraph 27).

National Planning Policy Framework consultation out – an analysis

In this blog, Mark Slater, Design Director at WWA Studios, responds to the updated National Planning Policy Framework consultation covering a broad range of issues, including to deliver more affordable housing and speed up planning of proposed changes.

The Government has published its updated National Model Design Code

The National Model Design Code sets out clear design parameters to help local authorities and communities decide what good quality design looks like in their area taking into consideration healthier, greener and more distinctive places. At its core it states: “well-designed homes and buildings are functional, accessible, inclusive and sustainable” and, in relation to housing quality, it highlights the need to consider the needs of older and disabled adults.

Design Code Pathfinder Programme: Pathfinder conversations

This Design Council publication shares insights from the government’s Design Code Pathfinder Programme. It includes examples of how a range of district and metropolitan councils drawing on the National Model Design Code have developed their local design codes and neighbourhood plans.

National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: consultation proposals

The Government has published its draft national design code and announced other measures in response to last year's Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report and to further consult on its design agenda and national planning framework.

Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England

A radical new strategy to reignite the housing market and get the nation building again was launched on 21 November 2011 by the Prime Minister. The Housing Strategy sets out a package of reforms to:...