We recently circulated a summary of the proposed planning reforms. This blog aims to consolidate the key information, raise awareness of the current consultation, and highlight how parish and town councils, and parish meetings, can engage if they wish.
The Government is consulting on proposed reforms to national planning policy. This is an opportunity for councils to make representations and help shape changes that could have significant local implications.
Consultation survey link: Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system
The consultation is detailed and contains a substantial number of questions. However, councils do not need to answer every question. You are encouraged to:
Focus only on the sections relevant to your council.
Provide concise, practical responses.
Draw on local experience where possible.
Even a short response addressing one or two key areas can be valuable.
Planning Officers Society (POS) guidance has also emphasised that consultees are not expected to respond to all sections, and that targeted responses are entirely appropriate.
The proposed changes form part of wider reforms to national planning policy and infrastructure delivery. These may affect areas such as:
Local plan expectations
Housing delivery
Infrastructure planning
The role of statutory consultees
Community engagement
To help set the scene, councils may find the following resources helpful:
It is important to highlight the work being undertaken nationally by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).
NALC is the only body representing parish councils and parish meetings at national level. They have been actively engaging with Government on planning reforms for some time.
This has included:
Dedicated engagement on the NPPF consultation.
NALC-led surveys gathering parish and town council views to inform a national response (including a sector survey in September 2024, which we promoted locally).
Ongoing briefings, updates and events to help councils understand the reforms as they roll out.
Collaborative work with planning stakeholders including the Royal Town Planning Institute, Campaign to Protect Rural England and Society of Local Council Clerks.
A recent stakeholder roundtable (February 2026) to refine NALC’s consultation response, with discussion focused specifically on parish and town council implications.
NALC has consistently advocated for recognition of parish and town councils as the first tier of local government and for meaningful engagement in planning decision-making.
Through its national representations, NALC seeks to:
Explain reforms from a parish-council perspective.
Identify the most significant local implications.
Ensure the voice of our sector is clearly heard.
These reforms may influence how planning policy is applied locally and how communities engage with development proposals.
By responding to the consultation, councils can:
Highlight practical delivery issues.
Raise concerns about resourcing or capacity.
Emphasise the importance of early engagement with parish and town councils.
Support or challenge specific proposals based on local experience.
Responses can also feed into national advocacy work already being undertaken.
Getting to Grips with NSIPs Guidance
We have received queries regarding our Getting to Grips with NSIPs guidance. For clarity, this guidance has not been updated. While reforms to the planning system are ongoing, the existing guidance remains applicable and continues to provide a useful overview of the NSIP process and the role of parish councils.
We recognise that planning reform can feel complex and fast-moving. We will continue to monitor developments and share updates as they emerge.