National/Local Policies

A selection of critical documents.

National Planning Policy has been subject to major changes since the summer of 2024, with the major impact being to move English Planning towards a more continental codified model with more detail on policy provided at a National Level. The Society has followed these changes and commented upon them during the various consultations. Understanding the scope and intent of the changes can be difficult so we have developed a short document provide some guidance as to how all the changes fit together.

Summary of National Planning Policy Changes

NATIONAL

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

The national policy document that supports all planning decisions in the country. Updated December 2023

See 2024 NPPF published December 2024

NOTE: NPPF Update released December 2025 for consultation.

See Details at this link

Planning and Infrastructure Bill

This bill became law in December 2025 see summary of the bill at this link

Documents supporting Revisons being proposed to Planning System

all policies at national level can be found at DLUHC Website

LOCAL

The Local Plan LPSS 2019

See Local Plan

Development Management Policies (DMP)

These support the Local Plan and were agreed in early 2023.

See 2023 LP DMP

Strategic Development Framework (SDF)

This document provides supporting information on the development of the Strategic Sites identified in the Local Plan

See SDF

Greenbelt SPD

See Greenbelt SPD

Tall Buildings SPD

See Tall Buildings SPD

Guildford Borough Council has links to all Local Policy documents on its website

ACCESSING/PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Guildford Borough Council on its Planning Portal contains all applications in progress and a applications that have been consented or refused.

By using the planning application number you can access the application using the simple search facility.

Alternatively use the interactive map facility Note it is well worth reading the instructions carefully before you use it for the first time.