Planning involves making decisions about the future of our cities, towns and countryside. This is vital to balance our desire to develop the areas where we live and work with ensuring the surrounding environment isn't negatively affected for everyone. It includes considering the sustainable needs of future communities.
The planning system in England requires each local planning authority to prepare a local development framework - a folder of documents outlining how planning will be managed for that area.
In determining planning applications, local planning authorities must have regard to their Local Development Framework (LDF).
Most types of development need planning permission. Activities classed as development include:
Certain changes of land/building use – e.g. if the changes are within the same use class – don't need planning permission. Also, some minor building works – known as permitted development – are automatically allowed. Areas can also have special protection against certain types of development. For more information, see the section in this guide on planning permission.
You may first become involved in the planning system when decisions need to be made about whether a proposed development – yours or someone else's – should be allowed.
Your local planning authority (LPA) – usually the district or borough council – is responsible for deciding whether a proposed development should be allowed to go ahead.
LPAs can also grant planning permission retrospectively for planning applications submitted after development work has been carried out.
The public can play an active role in the planning system – having a say in decisions affecting them and their communities. The main ways you can get involved are:
You can also report planning control breaches to your LPA and comment on planning-related appeals. Find out more information about the appeals process.
If you need advice you should contact the staff at the relevant LPA as they are there to help – most of them are planners, so they care about creating better places for us to live.
Find contact information for your LPA.
You can also get help and support from:
External links:
