Unveiling planning reform is becoming a bit of a Christmas tradition. December 2025 marked the third year in a row that the government unwrapped yet another National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), its rulebook for planning and development in England.

This version certainly brought developers some festive cheer. It is proudly pro-building, with a default approval stance for schemes near transport hubs, streamlined decision-making, more delegated planning powers to speed approvals, limits on councils adding extra demands beyond national standards, and exemptions such as biodiversity requirements being eased for smaller sites to cut costs.

But, in the headlong dash to hit housing targets, is Steve Reed, the secretary of state for housing, in danger of treating local democracy as collateral damage?