NPPF action points revised

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all,

Here is a reminder of the NPPF for England consultation which closes on 10/03/26.

Hannah's full email is below, but here's a summary:

Emailing and writing would be ideal

 

-Signing off stating your swift group – if you are a member – would be great

 

-Getting everyone in your swift group to write and email would be ideal

 

*Email: *

PlanningPolic...@communities.gov.uk

 

*Write: *

Planning Policy Consultation Team,

Planning Directorate – Planning Policy Division,

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,

Floor 3, Fry Building,

2 Marsham Street,

London,

SW1P 4DF

 

Be sure to include the following information as you begin (in whatever wording you want of course)

Include '...NPPF reforms consultation...' in the subject line:

With regards to 'N2: Improving the natural environment paragraph 017 – incorporate swift bricks into all new development'...

- I support the addition of swift bricks to the NPPF,

although I believe this should be in Building Regulations because:

the NPPF is only considered by planning decisions, it is not a mandatory requirement;

the time taken between publication of the NPPF and adoption in Local Plans, plus subsequent time between award of planning permission and commencement of construction, is unacceptably long given the rapid rate of decline of populations of swifts and other cavity-nesting birds;

 

local authorities implement the NPPF inconsistently so there are variable requirements between authorities for both the Local Plan and wording of planning conditions, which is confusing for developers and leads to non-compliance;

 

a lack of post-construction site checks means that levels of non-compliance can be high;

 

enforcement action with regard to planning conditions can be "discretionary", and there is already evidence that some identified incidences of non-compliance are not resolved.

 

-Westminster as recently as October 2025 has explained that mandating swift bricks isn't easy and yet Scotland made the decision to legislate in a month, proving just how simple amending primary or secondary legislation could be for swift bricks.

 

To improve the NPPF wording, please:

1. cross-reference the existence of NPPG Natural Environment 2025 paragraph 017 from the NPPF, because it will be easy for local authorities to observe the NPPF clause but overlook the existing and more detailed text in the NPPG. It would be even clearer if the full text of paragraph 017 is included in the NPPF;

 

2. refer to the necessity of a post-construction check in the NPPF, as including this requirement in the planning condition is the main route to achieving compliance with the relevant planning conditions.

(END OF COMMENTS.)

If you submit comments please let me know at swifts....@gmail.com.

Tips for the design code consultation to follow very soon.

Many thanks,

Mike

Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group

+++

NPPF action points revised

Hannah Bourne-Taylor <hannahbou...@gmail.com>: Feb 04 12:21PM

Hi again,

 

If you haven't emailed the government yet, here is a more detailed instruction, with the help of our resident expert planner, Mike.

 

I remain sceptical of the NPPF because although it is a legal requirement, the policies within it have only a legal requirement to be considered so in other words, there lies a big loophole.

 

See action points below. Mike will send a suggested SLN response soon. This is long but v important !!!!

 

Best, and thank you Mike

Hannah

I contact you all to encourage you to send an email between now and the 10th March to the government as part of the consultation for the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework). Any queries, let me know. This isn't about getting a response – it's about letting them know formally so that there is a collective voice coming through as they assess. In case you aren't aware, the government could upgrade to Building Regulations at any point as it's secondary legislation so would only require a consultation period and a relevant Minister to sign the Statutory Instrument to amend. Also, there will be a relevant parliamentary bill in the next session so keeping the pressure up is important. 

Michael Gove as former Secretary of State (who infamously blocked this) told me in person during the summer that mandating swift bricks is entirely operable – which Scotland has just proven so easily – so don't believe them when they repeatedly fob us off. As you know the government announced an update to the draft NPPF for England regarding swift bricks in December 2025. National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system - GOV.UK <https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-proposed-reforms-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system>; This is the action that in theory is great but will be too slow to come into force to make any meaningful difference, taking several years to filter through Local Plans and even then compliance levels can be low. Anyone is invited to have their say until 10th March when the consultation closes for the draft of the NPPF. The worst case scenario would be that industry lobby groups successfully remove or water down the drafted policy. Voicing our collective concern that policy is not enough would help balance any counter lobby taking place and at the very least, if there is a risk of them removing or watering down, then they may think twice. In other words, we must keep telling them that we are watching their every move as this government is not an ally to birds, nor are the civil servants who had the audacity to tell me that they were blocking it as recently as April due to swift bricks and boxes not working. Unbelievable. The RSPB's expert was incredible with putting them right immediately if anyone is shocked by that as I was.

These types of consultations mainly go unnoticed by members of the public and so the balance is often skewed as the industry lobby groups will be all over them, so I can't stress the power and importance of your voice here. -Emailing and writing would be ideal -Signing off stating your swift group – if you are a member – would be great -Getting everyone in your swift group to write and email would be ideal *Email: *PlanningPolic...@communities.gov.uk *Write:*Planning Policy Consultation Team,Planning Directorate – Planning Policy Division,Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,Floor 3, Fry Building,2 Marsham Street,London,SW1P 4DF Be sure to include the following information as you begin (in whatever wording you want of course) 'With regards to the N2: Improving the natural environment paragraph 017 –incorporate swift bricks into all new developments'….. Optional points to include: - I support the addition of swift bricks to the NPPF,although I believe this should be in Building Regulations because: the time taken between publication of the NPPF and adoption in Local Plans, plus subsequent time between award of planning permission and commencement of construction, is unacceptably long given the rapid rate of decline of populations of swifts and other cavity-nesting birds; local authorities implement the NPPF inconsistently so there are variable requirements between authorities for both the Local Plan and wording of planning conditions, which is confusing for developers and leads to non-compliance; a lack of post-construction site checks means that levels of non-compliance can be high; enforcement action with regard to planning conditions can be "discretionary", and there is already evidence that some identified incidences of non-compliance are not resolved. -Westminster as recently as October 2025 has explained that mandating swift bricks isn't easy and yet Scotland made the decision to legislate in a month, proving just how simple amending primary or secondary legislation could be for swift bricks. To improve the NPPF wording, please: 1. cross-reference the existence of NPPG Natural Environment 2025 paragraph 017 from the NPPF, because it will be easy for local authorities to observe the NPPF clause but overlook the existing and more detailed text in the NPPG. It would be even clearer if the full text of paragraph 017 is included in the NPPF; 2. refer to the necessity of a post-construction check in the NPPF, as including this requirement in the planning condition is the main route to achieving compliance with the relevant planning conditions.

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all,

Here is a reminder of the NPPF for England consultation which closes at 23:45 on 10/03/26.

Link here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-proposed-reforms-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system

Hannah's full email is below, but here's a summary:

Emailing and writing would be ideal

(It's getting late to write now, so just email if you're too late to write.)

Many thanks,

Mike

Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group