The Government has opened a consultation on a new, consolidated Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). It is the second major planning consultation issued since December 2025 and is intended to sit alongside, and help implement, the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The consultation opened on 21 January 2026 and closes at 11:45pm on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
What is being consulted on
The consultation seeks views on the usability of a single consolidated Design and Placemaking PPG. A draft version of the full guidance has been published alongside the consultation and the Government asks that both are read together.
Why this matters for local areas
Design policy is often where local ambition either becomes practical, or gets diluted in delivery. The draft PPG is presented as a support to plan making and decision making, and may be particularly relevant where councils and communities are preparing or updating:
- local design guides
- local design codes
- masterplans and site frameworks
However, the Expert Panel view is that, while the document could help provide a national reference point for design work, local groups are likely to need support to interpret and apply it consistently. The draft is not easy to use in its current form. It contains omissions and specific points where amendments are necessary. It should not be treated as the only valid source of advice on good design.
What the Expert Panel will be saying
The Expert Panel intends to highlight that:
- the consolidated format may be useful in principle, but the current draft is hard to navigate and apply in practice
- some topics and practical issues are missing or under explained
- there are areas where the wording needs amendment to avoid confusion and unintended consequences
- local groups and volunteers will need accessible guidance and examples if the PPG is to be usable beyond specialist planning audiences
For more details go to The Civic Voice consultation page.
How to respond
Responses are submitted via the Government’s consultation platform. The consultation page also includes the draft PPG (PDF) and the consultation document (HTML).