<p>The government has published its long-anticipated consultation on its revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), reflecting previously trailed statements on planning changes and <a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/gove-outlines-lurb-changes">amendments made to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, following backbencher MP pressure.</a></p> <p>On December 22, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) released the <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/levelling-up-and-regeneration-bill-reforms-to-national-planning-policy/levelling-up-and-regeneration-bill-reforms-to-national-planning-policy?pk_campaign=newsletter_5842">consultation</a> which closes on March 2. Its policy objectives include building “beautiful and refusing ugliness”, securing the infrastructure needed to support development, more democratic engagement with communities on local plans and empowering communities to shape their neighbourhoods.</p> <p>As previously announced, the consultation features DLUHC’s intention to remove the need for local authorities with an up-to-date plan to continually demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply. It proposes to implement this change when it publishes the revised NPPF, anticipated in the spring. </p> <p>DLUHC said it was providing local authorities with <span>“another strong incentive to agree a local plan, giving communities more of a say on development and allowing more homes to be built”.</span></p> <p>Ministers plan to introduce “new flexibilities to meet housing needs”. These include the controversial decision <a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/dluhc-rows-back-housing-targets">to make the standard method for local housing need an advisory starting point instead of mandatory</a>. This …