It's at the Printers!

It's almost time to sit down and digest the new National Planning Policy Framework - the much hailed and abridged successor to the current, familiar clutch of Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPG) and Planning Policy Statements (PPS) that provide national guidance on a broad range of issues from noise, to economic development, enforcement and green belt. 

George Osborne MP says the document's good to go on Tuesday, 27 March. It will be published and become immediately effective from that day. A quick look at the consultation draft Framework published in July 2011 promises a document that will say:

• planning authorities should plan positively for new development, and approve all individual proposals wherever possible. In particular they should approve proposals that accord with statutory plans without delay
• planning permission should be granted where the development plan is “absent, silent, indeterminate, or where relevant policies are out of date
• the primary objective of development management is to “foster the delivery of sustainable development, not to hinder or prevent development
• local planning authorities should approach development management decisions positively, attach significant weight to the benefits of economic and housing growth, influence development proposals to achieve quality outcomes, and enable the delivery of sustainable development proposals

Not long to wait now for a document that Mr Osborne described in his Budget speech as "...the biggest reduction in business red tape ever undertaken....".  That's quite a bold promise.  It will certainly be interesting reading.