The NPPF contains "new or significantly different requirements" from those previously required by Planning Policy Statements and Guidance, the PAS said, and where a Local Plan is not up to date, the presumption in favour of sustainable development will apply.
Local Councils will have to make their own judgements about the degree of compatibility of plans with the new NPPF the PAS said, "but we hope this [checklist] will help you start to think about what you need to do next", it said.
The checklist aims to help councils adopt an up-to-date Local Plan and is designed to help councils to assess Local Plans against national policy, identify gaps, understand risks and start to make plans on how to manage those risks.
"It's a start. It won't tell you how compatible your policies are, nor how much weight you can give to emerging policies in decision making," said Alice Lester, who posted the checklist. "But it should help you identify where, if any, your main risk areas are. We'll be developing work over the next few weeks on thinking about those risks and possible actions."
The checklist will help councils to respond proactively and speedily to the NPPF, the PAS said. It will also help councils to prepare for an examination, make robust planning decisions and implement new policies.
The checklist is in draft form and will be reviewed following feedback from local planning authorities that have used it and other stakeholders, the PAS said. It will be updated again as necessary later in 2012.
