Planning permission

Planning permission is only a starting point. Many other controls impact on (and may even prevent) development, even if planning permission were to be granted.

Some omissions can constitute a criminal act – such as unauthorised works to a listed building.

Early planning and statutory services’ investigations are vital to prevent projects from being delayed at some cost and desktop studies and evaluation are crucial.

Formal planning controls in the UK really started with the Town and Country Planning Act 1949 and have been evolving ever since.

Planning can prove quite complicated – even some of the guidance and advice issued by central government can prove self-contradictory in practice.

• The primary source of information about planning in the UK is the government’s Planning Portal, an online information resource for both the public and professionals (England).
• For the devolved administrations see Scottish government, Planning NI, and Welsh Government Planning.

It is sensible to become familiar with:

• the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (or similar Acts and guidance for the devolved administrations);
• the National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012), which sets out central government policy;
• GDO/UCO terms – the General Development Orders and Use Classes Order (Statutory Instruments passed under the Town and Country Planning Act), which define categories of building use and where Planning Permission is required for a change of use or if changes are permitted between classes without need for formal consent.

The impact of the Localism Act 2011 also needs to be considered.