Government consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework

16th March, 2026

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. The government recently closed a consultation on the revision of the NPPF.

AEF’s response focused on how the planning system addresses airports and aviation, highlighting several gaps in the current NPPF and areas where more clarity is required, including:

• Providing clear definitions – what tests, metrics and targets will be used to determine ‘acceptable environmental effect’ in respect of transport developments?

• The need for climate appraisals to include aviation’s non-CO₂ effects

• Setting clear thresholds for assessing aircraft noise, and a specific policy test for assessing ultra fine particles (UFPs)

• Publishing guidance on aircraft noise exposure on housing developments, schools and other community facilities (as set out in former planning document PPG24)

• Clarifying and strengthening the role of local planning authorities when assessing the climate impacts of aircraft emissions resulting from airport development

• Factoring the cumulative impact of emissions from all UK airports and planned expansions expansions into decision-making

• Providing clear and comprehensive guidance on how to interpret and apply Public Safety Zone policy

To see AEF’s full response, take a look at the document below:

Photo credit: Jacek Dylag, Unsplash