plans National planning policy in England is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published by MHCLG. The current version of the NPPF (2019) recognises Building for Life 12. Building for Life 12 is also cited in the government's National Design Guide. In 2021, MHCLG published a draft version of the newest edition of the NPPF. The draft version cites Building for a Healthy Life. Local planning authorities across the country have cited Building for Life 12/Building for a Healthy Life in local plans and/or supplementary planning documents. Local planning authorities do not require consent from the authors to do so, however local planning authorities are requested to advise Design for Homes if they are using the tool locally so an up to date usage map can be maintained. Examples of local applications of Building for Life 12/Building for a Healthy Life Burton Joyce Parish Council and Gedling Borough Council (2015), Burton Joyce Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2028. Hall, G. (2015) Building for Life 12 Independent Assessment, Fernwood, Nottinghamshire, Urban Forward Limited. Durham County Council (2018) Draft Durham Building for Life 12 Supplementary Planning Document. Maidstone Council (2018) Building for Life 12: Maidstone Edition, Design South East. Building for Life 12 / Place Alliance / Use of Building for Life 12 in published work In 2020, Place Alliance published 'A Housing Design Audit for England'. The audit used questions similar to those in Building for Life 12 but the exact questions were modified by Place Alliance. This followed a decision by the authors of Building for Life 12 to not permit the use of their methodology on the basis of concerns about site selection and the robustness of auditing. The decision followed a request by the Place Alliance to use the Building for Life methodology as a basis for the audit. This decision was the first time that the authors exerted their intellectual property rights and prevented the use of Building for Life 12. The authors also exerted their rights in 2020 when a third party claimed that it had created Building for Life 12. The authors closely monitor the use of the methodology and have supported its use in ways that advance the quality of new residential development and reflect a spirit of partnership working and cooperation with the house building industry. For instance, Durham County Council, Maidstone Council and the national Design Network have been permitted to use the methodology free