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Written question asked by Laurence Turner (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 (named day). It was answered by Matthew Pennycook (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Planning: Walking

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to policy S5 of the draft National Planning Policy Statement, how he will define reasonable walking distance.

Answer

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out a number of proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including a “default yes” for suitable proposals that develop land around rail stations within existing settlements, and around ‘well-connected’ train stations outside settlements, including on Green Belt land.

It makes clear that such development should be limited to land physically well-related to the station and within reasonable walking distance of it.

Reasonable walking distance is not quantified in the consultation document itself but following the Oral Statement I made on 16 December 2025 I referenced 800 metres (approximately 10 minutes at moderate walking speed) as the government’s working assumption of how it might be defined.

The consultation sought views on all aspects of the policy, including how reasonable walking distance should be defined.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
122451
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Planning Property development Walking
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk