The Government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that maintains a focus on creating healthier communities through the planning system and includes stronger references to preventing ill health and reducing health inequalities.
The updated framework reinstates specific references to health inequalities and access to healthier food, recognising the role that planning policy can play in supporting better health outcomes and community wellbeing.
One of the most significant changes in the revised framework is the removal of references to “fast-food outlets”, which have been replaced with the planning term “Hot Food Takeaways”. The Government said the change was made because “fast-food outlets” is not currently defined in planning legislation within the Use Classes, making it difficult for local authorities and planning inspectors to apply the policy consistently.
The Government has however indicated that it intends to explore options to address issues around food outlet definitions, including potential changes to the Use Classes Order, with the aim of providing greater clarity and improving the effectiveness of planning tools available to local authorities.
The revised NPPF introduces a clearer definition of a “reasonable walking distance” from a school for the purposes of planning decisions relating to hot food takeaways. The framework now specifies that 400 metres, approximately five minutes’ walk, should be considered a reasonable walking distance, following requests from local authorities for greater certainty when implementing the policy.
Finally, the Government has also removed text relating to advertisement controls from the NPPF, stating that these provisions largely duplicate existing legislation. Ministers have said that updated Planning Practice Guidance will clarify that decision-makers should continue to consider cumulative impacts when determining advertising consent applications.
Beth Bradshaw, Policy and Advocacy Lead, Obesity Health Alliance, said:
“We’re pleased that the Government has maintained a strong commitment to health, prevention and reducing health inequalities in the revised National Planning Policy Framework. Planning policy has an important role to play in shaping healthier communities and ensuring everyone has access to healthier food.”
“While we’re disappointed to see references to fast-food outlets removed, we welcome the Government’s recognition that further work is needed to address existing planning challenges on outlet classification. The proposed review of Use Class Orders presents an important opportunity to provide local authorities with clearer and more effective tools to support healthier food environments and we look forward to further details of this in due course.”