Ealing LPPG – Ealing’s New Local Plan
How much weight should normally be granted to emerging planning policies?
Para 48 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that: ‘local planning authorities may give weight to relevant policies in emerging local plans’ according to a number of factors, principally:
- their stage of preparation
- the extent to which there are unresolved objections
- their consistency with the broader Framework.
In addition, it is material to consider the extent to which emerging policies and evidence also accord with existing adopted policies, particularly those of the London Plan.
Revision date 3 April 2023
How should different policies in Ealing’s Draft Local Plan (published 30 November 2022) be weighted in applications?
The weight accorded to different policies is always a matter for the decision maker, and in the case of the draft local plan this weight should be determined in line with NPPF para 48 as set out above. Policies will generally gain weight as they progress through the process of consultation and examination, particularly where they do not attract objections. Policies that closely accord with adopted policy in the existing Local Plan or London Plan may also merit more weight.
Subject to the above, weight is suggested as follows:
| Low weight |
|
| Moderate weight |
|
| Substantial weight |
|
| Full weight |
|
Revision date 3 April 2023