Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

NPPF definition

What does NPPF mean? In practice, the NPPF is the government’s consolidated statement of national planning policy for England, guiding preparation of local plans and the determination of planning applications and appeals. Issued by the Secretary of State (DLUHC), it is not statutory and is not defined in legislation, but is a material consideration. Under section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, decisions follow the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise; the NPPF often provides those considerations. Key features include the presumption in favour of sustainable development (para 11), policies on housing need and five-year land supply, the Housing Delivery...

Vacant Building Credit (England): policy background, calculation of affordable housing contributions, abandonment tests, LPA guidance, CIL interaction, Green Belt exceptions and concerns

Published by a LexisNexis Planning expert

Practice notes

What is the vacant building credit?

Under national planning policy in the National Planning Policy Framework (nppf), to encourage the reuse of brownfield land, where empty buildings are brought back into use or redeveloped, any affordable housing payment due on that redevelopment should be reduced in proportion to the floorspace of the existing buildings. This reduction is referred to as the vacant building credit. The vacant building credit applies only in England. Its purpose is to lessen affordable housing contributions sought in development. It does not diminish other planning obligations, and it is distinct from the way the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is calculated.

What is the background to the introduction of the vacant building credit?

The vacant building credit was announced in England on 28 November 2014 through a written ministerial statement, alongside an exemption from affordable housing requirements for small sites. The written ministerial statement concerning the vacant building credit explained that a financial credit, equal to the existing gross floorspace of any vacant buildings returned to any lawful use or demolished for redevelopment, should be subtracted from the calculation of any affordable housing contributions sought from relevant development schemes. This would not, however, apply to vacant buildings...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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