Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether changes to the National Planning Policy Framework since December 2024 apply to retrospective planning applications for unauthorised traveller sites.

Retrospective planning applications must be determined in accordance with the local development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes a proposed policy on retrospective planning applications and unauthorised development which sets out that if it is concluded, based on evidence, that the unauthorised development was intentional, that fact should be given substantial weight in considering whether to grant planning permission.

The consultation on changes to the NPPF is available on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.