The national planning policy consultation document that accompanied the recently-published draft NPPF concludes by stating that:
"If we are to achieve our goals, the system we have moved so rapidly to regear must enter a period of stability over the second half of this Parliament and beyond. One in which every actor – from government to local authorities to applicants – must seize the benefits of change by bringing a laser like focus to delivery."
This focus is very much welcomed. LPDF and Lichfields research published in 2025 (How Long Is A Piece Of String?) found that outline applications for major development that were taking eight months in 2014 were taking two years in 2024. If the increasing number of applications being submitted in response to the changes to the NPPF are to make a contribution to delivery in the short-term then they will need to be processed a lot more efficiently than at present.
LPDF and Lichfields are therefore surveying industry stakeholders for views on where development management delays are most acute; where there is most scope to remove 'grit' from the system; and what the Government's "laser-like" focus should be on. Please do take the opportunity to share experiences and recommendations, which will be collated, published and shared with Government at the earliest opportunity. Please note that all information gathered through this questionnaire and any subsequent discussions will not be attributable.
