This article presents the most recent changes to the legislation and policy of town planning in England since 2011. It deals first with the implementation of the Localism Act which received royal assent in 2011 and notes the incorporation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission within the Planning Inspectorate, with final decisions now being taken by the Secretary of State ; the suppression of the Regional Spatial Strategies ; and the introduction of neighbourhood plans. With regard to the latter, the article discusses the progress and finance made available by central the government for community forums to prepare such plans. The second part of the article deals with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in its final form in April, 2012, and considers the interpretation that the NPPF makes of sustainable development which places heavy emphasis on sustainable economic development. The third part of the article deals with the Growth and Infrastructure Bill which the government hopes will receive royal assent in April 2013. The criticisms that have been made of the bill are noted, in particular the absence of key definitions that will affect the implementation of key elements of the bill, including the possibility for developers to ask the Secretary of State to determine planning applications in substitution for local authorities deemed to be « inefficient ».