The Chief Planner in government has announced that publication of the long-awaited revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will be in the summer, rather than the spring as previously indicated last year.
In December 2025, the government published a new draft version of the NPPF for a 12 week consultation, which is running until 10th March. This draft is a significant re-write of existing policy and is longer than the framework currently in place.
Shortly after the draft NPPF was published, a senior at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had advised that the final version might be released in spring 2026. However, in her most recent newsletter, the government’s Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has confirmed that the final NPPF is now expected to be released in summer 2026.
Parliament usually runs in sessions that begin and end in the spring, with the summer recess scheduled from 16 July to 1 September, which may affect the timing of publication.
Joanna Averley also confirmed that additional regulations linked to the introduction of the new local plan-making system will be published throughout 2026.
