Learn about development plans

The town and country planning system provides the main framework of land use in Britain. This aims to secure the most efficient and effective use of land in the public interest.

Local authorities usually decide on whether to allow proposals to build on land or to allow its use to change. Development plans set out the authority’s policies and proposals for the development and use of land in its area. The development plan guides and informs day to day decisions as to whether or not planning permission should be granted, under the system known as development control. In order to ensure that those decisions are rational and consistent, they must be made in accordance with the development plan adopted by the authority. There must be public consultation and proper regard to other relevant matters (sometimes called ‘material considerations’).

The law (Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Although plans do not have to be rigidly followed, they provide a firm basis for rational and consistent planning decisions. They give everyone concerned with development in an area a measure of certainty about what kind of development will and will not be permitted during the life of the plan.

The development plan is not always a single plan:

• Counties and most non-metropolitan unitary districts are covered by structure plans (in which the county, national park or all-purpose local authority (sometimes called 'unitary authorities')) set out key strategic policies as a framework for local planning, and local plans (in which district authorities and national park authorities set out more detailed policies to guide development in their areas, including proposals for specific sites). Structure plans may in some cases be prepared on a joint basis between two or more authorities (e.g. a County and a unitary authority or national park).
• County, national park and some unitary authorities also prepare Minerals and Waste Local Plans.

Local plans and UDPs identify particular areas as suitable for housing, employment, retail or other uses, and set out the policies that the authority proposes to apply in deciding whether or not development will be permitted. The preparation of development plans gives the community the opportunity to influence the policies and proposals for the future development and use of land in their areas. Because the development plan forms the statutory basis for planning decisions, it is important that local people are involved in their preparation. There are several opportunities for people to make their views known during the preparation process.