Older Good Practice Guides

Although these guides are no longer available online. Hard copies should be available from The Stationary Office.

It is also advisable to check the validity of these older guides as the information they contain could now be out-of-date.

• Planning to deliver - The managed release of housing sites

This GPG is one of a series of guides to better practice supporting the implementation of 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing'. Clear planning policies and intelligent development control are needed if the release of housing sites is to be managed successfully.

• Monitoring provision of housing through the planning system: towards better practice

This GPG is one of a series of guides to better practice supporting the implementation of 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing'.

The guide highlights the pivotal role of monitoring in implementing the 'plan, monitor and manage' approach, and builds from expectation set out in paragraph 76 of PPG3 that effective monitoring is required to underpin "the strategy of maintaining an adequate supply of land and buildings for housing and to enable its managed release".

The guide also underlines the general importance of monitoring to successful forward planning.

• GPG01A - Design Bulletin 32 - Residential Roads and Footpaths

This GPG focuses on roads and footpaths as an integral part of the residential environment. DB32 describes the main considerations that should be taken into account in the design of residential road and footpath layouts. The advice in this bulletin should be read in conjunction with the DB32 companion guide Places, Streets and Movement (GPG01B)

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0-11-752641-X

• GPG01B - Places, Streets & Movement. A companion guide to Design Bulletin 32. Residential roads and footpaths

This GPG is a good practice companion guide to Design Bulletin 32 (see above), the government’s existing planning advice to local authorities and developers. It describes the main considerations that should be taken into account in laying out roads and footpaths in residential developments.

It shows how these considerations can be applied in ways that create sustainable and well-designed residential areas. The guide aims to promote earlier and greater attention to urban design, place more emphasis on people and communities and move away from overly prescriptive standards.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 1 85112 113 7

• GPG05 - Telecommunications Prior Approval Procedures (as applied to mast/tower development)

This GPG advises on the application of prior approval procedures to the development of telecommunications masts and towers. Telecommunication code system operators enjoy a general planning permission under the General Permitted Development Order.

But for certain masts and antennae, and some other telecom and radio installations, a prior approval application is required to allow the local planning authority to consider the siting and appearance of the proposed development, and to decide whether in the circumstances prior approval will be required.

This document is not currently available online.

• GPG11 - European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP)

This GPG gives advice and guidance on the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), which is a non-binding overview of European regional structure planning considerations.

The ESDP is based on three main areas of policy action on the EU’s territory: a more balanced and polycentric system of cities and a new urban-rural relationship; parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge; prudent management and development of Europe’s natural and cultural heritage.

The outcomes intended include a better spatial balance and economic and social cohesion, balanced urban and regional competitiveness, better accessibility, reinforced EU border regions and the development of Euro-corridors, including by development of transport infrastructure.

This document is not currently available online.

• GPG12 Planning for Rural Diversification (October 1995)

This GPG is intended to assist local planning authorities in assessing the economic and social needs of rural areas, devising positive development plan policies for economic activity which respects the countryside, and taking a constructive approach to planning applications for rural diversification activities.

PPG 7, The Countryside – Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development (February 1997), advises planning authorities to take account of this guidance.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 753164 2

• GPG 13 - Development Plans: A Good Practice Guide

This GPG complements government policy for the development plan system by providing practical advice to local authorities who are currently preparing development plans, and by using examples of features within existing plans that are considered good practice.

Development plans are of central importance to the town planning system in England and Wales and government policy on them is mainly to be found in PPG12, which advises on their form and content and the procedures to be followed.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 752689 4

• GPG 14 - Enforcing Planning Control: Good Practice Guide for Local Planning Authorities

This GPG is a response to a recommendation in the report of Robert Carnwath QC Enforcing Planning Control (1989), which said that the government should consider preparation of a practice manual for local planning authorities on all aspects of planning enforcement work.

It covers best practice with regard to investigation, negotiation, drafting and procedure, appeals, prosecution, stop notices, injunctions, default action and other aspects of the system, and includes examples from actual cases.

The guide accompanies DoE Circular 10/97 Enforcing Planning Control: Legislative Provisions and Procedural Requirements.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 753405 6

• GPG 15 - Environmental Appraisal of Development Plans - A Good Practice Guide

This GPG has been designed to help local planning authorities carry out environmental appraisal of plans. It offers guidance on a range of straightforward techniques and procedures which can be easily used at each stage of the plan-making process, without the need for specialist staff.

It is important that development plans ensure as best they can that development and growth are sustainable. But local authorities can only do this if they understand, amongst other things, the environmental impact which their plans might have.

This guide helps authorities to do this. It will be replaced by new guidance on a more comprehensive sustainability appraisal which will consider economic and social impacts as well.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 752866 8

• GPG 16 - Evaluation of Environmental Information for Planning Projects - A Good Practice Guide

This GPG is intended to help local planning authorities to evaluate environmental statements prior to their determination of planning applications which are subject to environmental impact assessment.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 753043 3

• GPG 18 - Local Development Plans and Unitary Development Plans: Best Practice

This GPG, like GPG13, complements government policy for the development plan system by providing practical advice to local authorities who are currently preparing development plans, and by using examples of features within existing plans that are considered good practice.

This document is not currently available online.

• GPG22 - Planning for Sustainable Development: Towards Better Practice

This GPG aims to help planners and others to understand how they can incorporate sustainable development principles into plans. It seeks to help with the implementation of the principles of sustainable development as reflected in current planning policy guidance. It draws together advice based on a wide range of experience and examples.

This document is no longer available online.

Alternatively, you can visit the ODPM Sustainable Communities homepage.

• GPG 23 - PPG 13: Guide to Better Practice (with DOT)

This GPG is a practical users’ manual for implementing the lessons from PPG13 - Transport. It should help local authority planners and councillors in drawing up or revising transport-related aspects of their development plans and in considering the planning applications they receive.

It should also be of benefit to developers and individuals who wish to see how the concepts in PPG13 can be translated into practice.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 753144 8

• GPG 24 - Preparation of Environmental Statements for Planning Projects That Require Environmental Assessment

This GPG is intended to help developers and their advisers to prepare good quality, objective environmental statements for development which is subject to environmental impact assessment.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 753207 X

• GPG 27 - Vital and Viable Town Centres

This GPG draws together information on trends and experience in the UK and elsewhere so as to enable local authorities and others to make the most of their town and city centres.

This document is not currently available online.

ISBN: 0 11 752943 5

• Fly-posting

This study was commissioned by the then Department of Environment (DOE) with the purpose of examining the ‘problem’ of fly-posting in terms of the scale of the activity, the workings of the industry and the procedures and methods used to control it.

Information was gathered on the practice of fly-posting by analysing the organisation and methods used by those engaged in fly-posting activities, the types of property and places most commonly fly-posted, and the types of goods and events which are being advertised.

The response by local planning authorities and other enforcement agencies was also examined by considering the relevance of existing legislation and DOE procedural guidance, and the effectiveness and administrative cost of measures taken by local authorities, other enforcement agencies and private landowners to control or prevent fly-posting.

Issues for the research included the extent to which policy priorities, resources committed, different organisational arrangements and innovative physical solutions contribute to the success of an authority in dealing with fly-posting.

This document is not currently available online.

• The Award of Costs in Planning and Other Proceedings - A Good Practice Guide

This document provides a practical guide to the interpretation and application of policy relating to the award of costs in planning and other proceedings. It gives an overview of the process as well as practical examples of the interpretation of policy set out in the relevant Circulars and Manuals.

It is not intended to be comprehensive, guidance is always being developed and refined on a case-by-case basis, and new issues will no doubt arise. However, it provides a guide to policy and practice in early 1998.

This GPG covers the majority of proceedings where there may be an application for award of costs, but excludes issues relating to applications for ex-gratia payments by the Department.

The guide is aimed principally at those broadly familiar with the policy and legislative provisions. The format and content are intended to provide a quick reference guide, and individual case files should be examined for a more detailed review of the issues.

This Good Practice Guide is not currently available online.