RICS responds to NPPF consultation

Since the publication of Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Consultation in December 2025, the RICS Planning and Development Expert Group has met regularly to develop RICS’s response to 225 questions on a diverse range of subjects in the built and natural environment. This included convening a roundtable of specialists to enable officials in the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have direct access to RICS expertise. The Geomatics, Minerals, Residential, Rural and Valuations, Professional Groups together with Conservation, Economics, Sustainability, Telecoms and External Affairs made important contributions to the final submission drawing on the full breadth of RICS expertise.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) welcomes the Government’s ambition to reform the planning system and accelerate the delivery of high‑quality homes and infrastructure. Our response highlights the importance of a planning framework that is modern, evidence‑driven and capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.

A central theme of our submission is the need to maintain the business case for development. Rising policy costs, higher build costs and fragile market conditions mean that viability remains a significant concern. In our response, we caution against over‑reliance on broad, plan‑stage viability assessments, noting that site‑specific viability testing remains essential to ensure development can proceed without slowing down housing delivery.

We support the Government’s digital transformation agenda and emphasise the central role that high‑quality geospatial data plays in supporting a faster planning system. Modernising data infrastructure will be vital to deliver effective plan‑making and long‑term spatial strategies.

Our response also highlights the need for realistic implementation timelines. Local authorities already face significant resource pressures, and transitional arrangements risk delaying the delivery of new homes. Clearer guidance on cross‑boundary cooperation, infrastructure alignment and minerals supply is essential to avoid bottlenecks.

Finally, given current market weakness, we encourage Government to consider targeted measures to support effective housing demand and to ensure that planning reforms are balanced across economic, social and environmental objectives.

RICS remains committed to supporting a planning system that delivers sustainable growth, resilient communities and a thriving built environment.