Councillor Stephen Conway, Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor for Housing, Partnerships and the Local Plan, approved Wokingham Borough Council's response to the government's consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The meeting, which was held on Friday 6 March 2026, focused solely on this decision.

Response to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Proposed Reforms Consultation

Councillor Stephen Conway approved the submission of Wokingham Borough Council's comments on the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation, issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in December 2025, sought views on significant structural improvements to the NPPF. The government's stated objectives for these reforms include making national planning policy more accessible, establishing a comprehensive suite of national policies to speed up plan preparation, and making policy more rules-based to support timely and consistent planning, with a default yes to development where it is most desirable.

The council's response, detailed in Enclosure 1 of the report¹, broadly supports the government's aim of improving clarity and consistency within the planning system. However, it raises significant concerns regarding operability, proportionality, local discretion, climate ambition, and the potential for reforms to undermine plan-led decision-making or locally evidenced standards.

Key concerns highlighted in the council's response include:

• National vs. Local Policy: While supporting a clearer separation between plan-making and decision-making policies, the council stressed that national policy must not undermine the primacy of the development plan. They cautioned that an increased reliance on detailed national policy could generate further legal uncertainty and appeals.
• Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: The council strongly objected to proposals that would prevent local authorities from setting higher energy efficiency standards for new developments, arguing that Building Regulations should be a minimum baseline, not a ceiling. They believe the draft Framework risks constraining climate ambition and slowing progress towards net-zero targets.
• Public Participation: The council noted the draft NPPF's limited emphasis on public participation, stating that meaningful engagement is essential for legitimacy, trust, and the delivery of successful places, particularly in Wokingham Borough where communities are highly engaged in planning decisions.
• Absence of a Clear National Vision: The council felt the draft NPPF lacked a clear and positive vision for the future of communities, beyond a focus on housing delivery and specific development types.

The decision to approve the council's response was made by Councillor Conway, with no alternative options considered as per the provided documentation. The report noted that the timing of this consultation ran parallel to the Local Plan Part 2 Examination in Public, which had taken priority.