Anyone familiar with PPGs 15 and 16 will see that the new PPS is significantly shorter than these documents. This is a deliberate decision, taken to make the PPS easier to use.
Shortening the PPS does not mean that protection afforded by PPG15 and 16 has been reduced - all areas are covered, just more clearly and succinctly.
The PPS Practice Guide supports the policies outlined in the PPS with explanations and guidance but adds no new policies itself.
The Practice Guide is a joint publication by Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and English Heritage. As such, although the PPS itself has primacy in plan-making and individual planning decisions, the Practice Guide carries governmental weight and is a material consideration in planning terms. This is no different to the situation with PPG15 and 16, except that policy and guidance are clearly separated, making the documents easier to use and understand.
Work is continuing on revising the existing Principles of Selection which accompanied PPG15. The Principles of Selection provide guidance on how to select heritage assets for national designation. This revised document will, in due course, accompany the PPS and will be supported by English Heritage Selection Guides.
