[UPDATE: For the subsequent updates to the NPPF relating to this consultation, please view this post.]
[UPDATE: For the subsequent publication of the "National Model Design Code", please view this post.]

The government has published the following response to the consultation titled "National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code - consultation proposals" (which ran for 8 weeks from 30/01/2021 until 27/03/2021):

• July 2021: Government response to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code - consultation proposals (pdf print version of HTML webpage) (link).

Notes:

• The "Introduction" at the start of the above response document includes the following information:
  - "On 30 January 2021, the government invited views on draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework). These changes were proposed to implement policy changes in response to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission’s ‘Living with beauty’ report [(link)].".
  - "We also took this opportunity to make a number of environment-related changes, including amendments on flood risk in response to initial findings from our review of flood risk with Defra, and climate change. The amendments also included a small number of very minor changes arising from legal cases, primarily to clarify the policy. A few minor factual changes were also made to remove out-of-date text (for example, the early thresholds for the Housing Delivery Test), to reflect a recent change made by a Written Ministerial Statement about retaining and explaining statues, and an update on the use of Article 4 directions.".
  - "The consultation also sought views on the draft National Model Design Code and the accompanying Guidance Notes, which together provide detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design. We sought views on the content of the documents, their application in practice and the approach to community consultation processes for developing local design codes.".
  - "The consultation ended on 27 March 2021 and all responses have been carefully considered. The government has made a number of important changes in response to the consultation, as set out in the various sections of this document.".
  - "The Framework that comes into force today is a reflection of our commitment to making beauty and place making a strategic theme in national planning policy. Our changes make clear that development that is not well designed should be refused and that ‘good design and beautiful places’ should be at the centre of plan making and decision making.".
  - "These changes do not represent a wholesale revision of the National Planning Policy Framework, nor do they reflect proposals for wider planning reform as set out in the Planning for the Future consultation document. A fuller review of the Framework is likely to be required in due course to reflect those wider reforms, subject to decisions on how they are to be taken forward.".
  - "Amendments to the National Model Design Code reflect the importance of providing guidance for creating healthy, environmentally responsive, sustainable and distinctive places with a consistent and high-quality standard of design."

Other sources of information:

• January 2021: Government press release - "All new developments must meet local standards of beauty, quality and design under new rules" (link).
• January 2021: National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code - consultation proposals (pdf print version of HTML webpage) (link).
  - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
• July 2021: Government press release - "Vision for building beautiful places set out at landmark design event" (link).