It uses new policy codes and must be read with the development plan and the site's constraints; it is not an automatic permission to build. [1][2][3]
Which version applies?
The August 2026 Framework replaced the previous national framework. Its policies are material considerations in decision-making from publication, as explained in Annex A. The publication of accessible chapter pages on 29 September 2026 does not move that policy start date. [1][2]
Check any planning statement prepared before the change. Replace superseded paragraph references with the relevant current policy codes and review the substance of the assessment, rather than merely changing a date on the cover.
National policy and the development plan
Planning decisions follow the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The NPPF explains the national approach, but individual policies need to be read in the context of the whole Framework. A supportive housing policy does not remove every design, access or environmental requirement. [3]
For a project brief, identify the development-plan policies that apply to the site, the relevant national decision-making policies and the evidence needed to assess any conflict. Treat draft policy separately from adopted policy; its weight depends on its stage, unresolved objections and consistency with the Framework. [4]
Proportionate information: DM1 and DM2
DM1 and DM2 support information proportionate to the development and its effects. Major development has particular preparation expectations; other proposals should be supported by the necessary information rather than an indiscriminate collection of reports. Additional local validation requirements need the policy basis and proportionality described in DM2. [4]
Annex C brings together national information requirements. Use it with the council's applicable checklist to identify actual triggers for reports, not as a requirement to commission every listed assessment for a house extension. [5]
Small housing sites: distinguish plan-making from decisions
Policy HO6 asks local plans to provide a diverse mix of sites. Its allocation targets include at least 10% of the housing requirement on sites no larger than one hectare and a further 10% on sites between one and two and a half hectares, unless strong reasons prevent this. These are plan-making targets, not a guarantee of permission for an individual small site. [6]
For decisions, HO7 gives substantial weight to homes meeting evidenced accommodation needs. A proposal should therefore explain what housing it provides and how it responds to identified needs, alongside the other relevant requirements. [6]
Extensions, roof additions and infill: L2 and DP3
Policy L2 supports effective use of land, including appropriate additional floorspace or homes through airspace development and sensitive development within existing plots. It expressly addresses forms such as mansard roofs and additional development in residential curtilages. [7]
The same policy contains safeguards concerning the street scene, safe access, living conditions and the use of residential plots. It is not a blanket right to enlarge every house or build in every garden. Read the complete provision and its qualifications when testing a specific scheme. [7]
Policy DP3 addresses design quality and response to local context. This means the way a proposal fits its site and surroundings remains relevant even where national policy supports making more effective use of the land. [8]
What to do with the new Framework
Review the proposal against the relevant coded policies, update the planning statement and identify any supporting information that is genuinely missing. Keep legal approval routes separate: national policy is not the same as permitted development legislation, and a planning decision does not provide building regulations approval. [3][9]
For an application already pending when policy changes, ask whether the assessment or supporting material needs updating. The useful response is a project-specific review of the applicable policies, not an assumption that a new Framework automatically makes the scheme acceptable.