Planning

About Planning

The purpose of the planning system is to protect amenity and the environment in the public interest.

The Planning Acts, therefore, control the use of land, the size and appearance of new buildings, their impact on neighbours and (if the building is listed), the internal appearance of the building.

Town Planning is about organising the way land and buildings are used so that as many people as possible, including generations to come, benefit. The law, together with government guidance and advice, requires Councils to prepare 'development plans'. These plans are then used to guide decisions about whether or not new uses and buildings are allowed.

The following guides have been produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government which provide a useful source of reference:

Planning: A Guide for Householders.

Planning Permission: A Guide for Business. 

Creating better places to live: A guide to the planning system in England

For topical news on planning and the Department, please view our quarterly Planning Newsletter.