04/96 - Local Government Act 1992 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990: Local Government Change and the Planning System

DoE 04/96 (28 March 1996)

This circular describes arrangements for planning in the context of changes in local government arrangements. These changes include structural change when a district becomes a unitary authority by acquiring the functions of a county council or when a county council becomes a unitary authority by acquiring the functions of a district council.

The arrangements can also involve boundary changes to extend or reduce the area of a district or county. A county is reduced by a district within it becoming a unitary authority, a district is abolished and all or part of it becomes part of one or more new districts, or a county is abolished and its area is distributed to two or more counties.

A unitary authority will exercise the planning functions of both a county and a district. The allocation of development plan making functions under the new arrangements is outlined.

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