1. Planning
2. Planning Policy & Legislation
3. What's new

What's new

Latest policy, consultations and guidance 

January 2013

• Letter about permitted development rights for change of use from commercial to residential, published 24 January 2013.

December 2102

• Recent planning activities and changes to the Local Plan Regulation 2012, published 28 December 2012.
• Letter about changes to financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2012/13 and 2013/14, published 18 December 2012.

November 2012

• Planning performance and the Planning Guarantee: consultation, published 22 November 2012. Closing date 17 January 2013
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Changes to planning fees in England, published 14 November 2012.

October 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Liberalising the regime for flying flags, published 8 October 2012

September 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Compulsory purchase and land disposal work, published 25 September 2012
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Extending planning permissions and the positive and proactive statement in decision notices, published 18 September 2012

July 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Written Ministerial Statement - Planning simplification measures, published 3 July 2012.

April 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Transfer of Compulsory Purchase Orders and Land Disposal Work to National Planning Casework Unit, published 11 April, 2012.
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Sensitive Information in Planning Applications, published 4 April, 2012.
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: New planning provisions coming into force on 6 April 2012, published 4 April 2012. Letter to local authorities informing them about new planning provisions that came into force on 6 April 2012 on neighbourhood planning, permitted development rights and the Development Management Procedure Order.

March 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: National Planning Policy Framework, published 27 March 2012.
  

February 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: National Planning Casework Unit - Update, published 10 February 2012.
  Letter to local authorities updating them on changes to the arrangements for handling planning casework following the closure of the Regional Government Offices.

January 2012

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Community Infrastructure Levy Functions) Order 2011, published 26 January 2012
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Housing Design Awards 2012, published 25 January 2012

December 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Householder permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps, published 5 December 2011.

October 2011

• Neighbourhood planning regulations: Consultation, added 13 October 2011; closing date: 5 January 2012.
• Community Infrastructure Levy: Detailed proposals and draft regulations for reform - Consultation, added 10 October 2011; closing date: 30 December 2011.

September 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: The Town and Country Planning Order 2011 and the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2011, published 15 September 2011.

August 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Advertising Control - Provision of DCLG guidance, published 16 August 2011.
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Policy statement on planning for schools development, published 15 August 2011.
• Planning for schools development: consultation - Summary of responses, added 15 August 2011.
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Planning support for businesses and shops, published 12 August 2011.

July 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Planning Guarantee and information requirements, published 29 July 2011.
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: National Planning Policy Framework, published 25 July 2011.
• Draft National Planning Policy Framework: Consultation, added 25 July 2011; updated 5 August 2011; closing date 17 October 2011.
• Local planning regulations: Consultation, added 15 July 2011; closing date: 7 October 2011.

June 2011

• Planning Policy Statement 3: Planning for Housing - Technical change to Annex B - Affordable Housing definition: Consultation - Summary of responses, added 9 June 2011.
• How change of use is handled in the planning system - tell us what you think: Issues paper, published 25 June 2011.
• Circular letter: Building (Amendment) Regulations 2011, published 22 June 2011 - This letter informs building control bodies about changes to the Building Regulations, which includes a change to the repair of flat roofs and to Competent Persons Schemes.
• Circular 02/2011: The Building Act 1984, Building (amendment) Regulations 2011, published 22 June 2011 - This Circular details the changes to the Building Regulations, which includes a change to the repair of flat roofs and to Competent Persons Schemes.

May 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Design and Planning, published 20 May 2011

April 2011

• Planning for traveller sites: Consultation, published 13 April 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Liberalisation of Change of Use, published 8 April 2011
• Relaxation of planning rules for change of use from commercial to residential: Consultation, published 8 April 2011

March 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Demolition, published 31 March 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Planning for Growth, published 31 March 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Preparation and Monitoring of Local Plans, published 30 March 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Update to Planning Policy Statement 10, published 30 March 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Marine planning and licensing systems, published 21 March 2011
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: National Planning Casework Unit, published: 10 March 2011

January 2011

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers and Chief Executives: The EU Waste framework Directive, published 10 January 2011
  

November 2010

• The Community Infrastructure Levy: An overview, published 18 November 2010
• The Community Infrastructure Levy: Summary, published 18 November 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Abolition of Regional Strategies, published 10 November 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Publication of Revised Circulars on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Article 4 Directions, published 4 November 2010
• Circular 08/10: Changes to Planning Regulations for Dwellinghouses and Houses in Multiple Occupation, published: 4 November 2010
• Replacement Appendix D to Department of the Environment Circular 09/95: General Development Consolidation Order 1995 (9780117531024), published 4 November 2010
• Procedures for revoking or making changes to development consent orders for nationally significant infrastructure projects: Consultation, published 1 November 2010
• Changing or revoking a development consent order for nationally significant infrastructure (Planning Act 2008): Consultation stage impact assessment, published 1 November 2010

October 2010

• Farmers should be able to offer affordable homes on the farm, published 18 October 2010
• Planning for schools development: Consultation, published 14 October 2010
• Consultation on Implementing the Mobile Homes Act 1983 on local authority Gypsy and Traveller Sites: Summary of responses, published 12 October 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Transfer of Government Offices for London's planning casework to Communities and Local Government, published 12 October 2010
• Greater flexibility for planning permissions: Guidance, published 1 October 2010

September 2010

• Tree preservation orders: proposals for streamlining – Consultation, published 28 Sept 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010, published 9 September 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Amendments to the planning rules for houses in multiple occupation, published 7 September 2010.

July 2010

• Ministerial statement: Removing Planning Barriers (Schools), published 26 July 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Revocation of Regional Strategies, published 6 July 2010

 

May 2010

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers - abolition of Regional Strategies [PDF], 27 May 2010. Additional guidance for planning inspectors has been issued by the Planning Inspectorate and can be found here.
  
• The Coalition - our programme for Government [PDF], May 2010 -pages 11 and 12 highlight a number of planning policy initiatives the Government is committed to over the next five years
  

April 2010

• Planning applications - changes from 6 April 2010 - The Planning Portal has amended its online application service to comply with legislative changes that apply from 6 April 2010.
  
• Circular 05/10: Changes to Planning Regulations for Dwelling Houses and Houses in Multiple Occupation - Published 1 April 2010

March 2010

• Circular 04/10: Compulsory Purchase and the Crichel Down Rules - published 31 March 2010
• Planning Act 2008: Guidance for local authorities - published 26 March 2010
• Review of the call-in process - report - Published 25 March 2010
• New Policy Document for Planning Obligations: Consultation - consultation - Published 25 March 2010. Closes 17 June 2010.
• Community Infrastructure Levy: An overview - Published 25 March 2010
• Community Infrastructure Levy Guidance: Charge setting and charging schedule procedures - published 25 March 2010
• Five-year housing land supply coverage in England - published: 24 March 2010
• Towards a more efficient and effective use of Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal in spatial planning: Final report - published: 22 March 2010
• The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant Determination 2010 No 31/1732 - published: 16 March 2010
  
  Killian Pretty reforms
  
• Improving Permitted Development: Consultation - Summary and Government response - published: 16 March 2010
• Development Management Policy Annex: Information requirements and validation for planning applications - published: 16 March 2010
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Implementing some key Killian Pretty Recommendations - published: 16 March 2010
• Guidance on information requirements and validation - published: 16 March 2010

 

• Consultation on a Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate - consultation - published: 9 March 2010. Consultation ends 1 June 2010
• Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment - consultation - published: 9 March 2010. Consultation ends 1 June 2010

February 2010

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010 - Published: 26 February 2010
  
  Community Infrastructure Levy
  
• Detailed proposals and draft regulations for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy: Consultation - Summary of responses - Published: 10 February 2010
• Community Infrastructure Levy: Final Impact Assessment - Published: 10 February 2010
  
  
  Planning Act 2008
• Planning Act 2008: The Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 - Guidance - Published: 1 February 2010
• Planning Act 2008: Guidance related to procedures for compulsory acquisition - Published: 1 February 2010
• Planning Act 2008: Guidance for the examination of applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects - Published: 1 February 2010

January 2010

• Houses in multiple occupation and possible planning responses: consultation - Summary of Responses - Published: 27 January 2010
• Greater flexibility for planning permissions: Summary of consultation responses - Published: 22 January 2010

December 2009

• Development Management: Proactive Planning from Pre-Application to Delivery – Consultation – Consultation – Published: 21 December 2009. Closes 19 March 2010
• Improving the use and discharge of planning conditions: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 21 December 2009. Closes 19 March 2010
• Taking forward the Government's response to the Killian Pretty Review: Second Progress Report – Published: 21 December 2009
• Improving engagement by statutory and non-statutory consultees: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 21 December 2009. Closes 19 March 2010
• Publicity for planning applications: Summary of responses to consultation – Consultation –Published: 21 December
• Improving the process of discharging planning conditions: Final report – Published: 21 December 2009

 

November 2009

• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - Implications of recent judgments – Published: 18 November 2009
• Rural masterplanning fund prospectus – Published: 26 November 2009
• Guidance for local authorities on incentivising landowners to bring forward additional land for rural affordable housing on rural exception sites – Consultation – Published: 26 November 2009. Ends 18 February 2010
• Incentivising landowners to bring forward additional land for affordable housing: Impact assessment – Published: 26 November 2009
• Government response to the Matthew Taylor Review: Implementation plan – Published: 26 November 2009
• Change in the notification arrangements for listed building consent applications: Impact assessment - Published: 13 November 2009
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: Arrangements for Handling Heritage Applications - Notification and Directions by the Secretary of State (England) Direction 2009 – Published: 13 November 2009
• Letter to Chief Planning Officers: National Policy Statements (PDF) - Published: 9 November 2009
• Consultation on draft National Policy Statement for Energy Infrastructure - Consultation - Published 9 November 2009. Closing date Monday 22 February 2010
• Consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Ports - Consultation - Published: 9 November 2009. Closing date 15 February 2010

 

September 2009

• Greater flexibility for planning permissions: Impact assessment - Published: 11 September

 

Planning Act 2008

• Nationally significant infrastructure projects – Application form guidance – Published: 8 September
• Guidance on pre-application consultation – Published: 8 September 2009
• Guidance on Associated development: Applications to the Infrastructure Planning Commission – Published: 8 September 2009
• Planning Act 2008: consultation on the pre-application consultation and application procedures for nationally significant infrastructure projects - Summary of responses – Published: 8 September 2009
• Infrastructure planning - How will it work? How can I have my say? - Published: 1 September

 

August 2009

• Consultation on the draft Crossrail (Devolution of Functions) Order 2009 – Consultation – Published: 28 August 2009. Closing date 5 November 2009
• Eco-towns - allocations from the eco-towns fund – Consultation – Published: 17 August 2009
• Eco-towns: Addendum to Draft Planning Policy Statement: summary of consultation responses – Published: 17 August 2009
• Consultation on proposed amendments to Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk – Consultation – Published: 11 August, 2009
• Policy Statement on Regional Strategies and Guidance on the establishment of Leaders' Boards: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 6 August, 2009
• Planning Act 2008: Consultation on list of statutory consultees for national policy statements - Summary of responses - Published: 3 August, 2009
  

 

July 2009

Community Infrastructure Levy

• Detailed proposals and draft regulations for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 30 July, 2009. Closes 23 October, 2009
• Detailed proposals and draft regulations for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy: Consultation - Partial Impact Assessment – Published: 30 July, 2009
• Detailed proposals and draft regulations for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy: Consultation - Reference documents – Published: Published 30 July, 2009

 

Killian Pretty

• Taking Forward the Government's response to the Killian Pretty Review: Progress Report – Published: 30 July, 2009
• Improving Permitted Development: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 30 July, 2009. Closes 23 October, 2009
• Streamlining information requirements for planning applications: Consultation – Consultation – Published: 30 July, 2009. Closes 23 October, 2009
• Publicity for planning applications: Consultation – Consultation – Published 30 July, 2009. Closes 23 October, 2009
• Benchmarking the costs to applicants of submitting a planning application – Published: 30 July, 2009

Please be advised that this page only displays documents released in the last twelve months.

Many older policy documents are available elsewhere in our Policy section and on the  Communities and Local Government website.