About Planning Law
Lexis+ Planning helps you to understand planning requirements, procedures, policy, appeals and enforcement, for developments ranging from small-scale residential extensions to nationally significant infrastructure projects. Clear, concise practice notes have direct links to relevant cases, legislation, guidance and commentary and our daily news feeds and weekly highlights keep you informed of new cases, legislation, and consultations.
Get, change, implement planning permission
We cover all key aspects of the planning application process from the procedure, viability considerations, to decision-making and material considerations, to the duty to give reasons for planning decisions.
Planning issues in property
A series of Practice Notes and Checklists outlining the planning issues for a planning title in a property transaction. How information’s revealed, what to report on, and the significance of the findings for the buyer.
Compulsory purchase
Compulsory purchase is governed by complex legislation, case law and guidance. We provide the legal requirements and good practice to help customers navigate the procedure, scope of CPOs and opportunities for challenge.
Legislation, guidance and commentary
Planning requirements, procedures, policy, appeals and enforcement. We cover developments ranging from small-scale residential extensions to nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Topics We Cover
Latest Planning News
This week’s edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a Court of Appeal decision on the scope of the power in s 70C TCPA 1990 to decline to...
Planning analysis: In Moran v Medway Council, the Court of Appeal held that section 70C(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990)...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published draft guidance detailing how local planning authorities must make...
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has confirmed that its new ‘Appeal a planning decision’ service is now the primary route for submitting planning and...
Planning analysis: The government has published responses to two biodiversity net gain (BNG) consultations: one on improving implementation for minor,...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
Planning permission is required for the development of land. 'Development', which is defined in section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990...
IntroductionSection 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (HPA 2016) confers powers to override easements and other rights benefitting adjoining...
When a public body receives a claim form for judicial review, the first step is to consider whether the claim has been brought in time. For further...
Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), a breach of planning control is subject to enforcement action. A breach of planning control...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained.The duty to cooperate was revoked with effect from 25 March 2026 by the changes...
Latest Planning Precedents
STOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS PRECEDENT IS DRAFTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PREVIOUS CODE...
Date [date]Parties1[name of Owner] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [number]) whose registered office is at]...
DATE [date]Parties1[name of Authority] of [address] (Authority)2[name of Licensee] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration...
This is the first draft of a precedent conservation covenant agreement, to be made under section 117 of the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021). It is...
This Agreement is made on [date]BETWEEN1[Council] whose principal place of business is [address] (the Council);2[Developer] whose registered office is...
Latest Planning Q&As
Featured Planning content
Statutory wayleaves and rights of access
Statutory wayleaves and rights of accessUtilitiesThe water, gas, electricity, communications and energy industries enjoy statutory rights of access...
Planning conditions—the six tests
Planning conditions—the six testsPowers to impose planning conditionsThe general powers for local planning authorities (LPAs) to impose conditions on...
What rights of access are there over an unadopted road, the owner of which is unknown?
What is a section 111 agreement?
Where a roadway is adopted by the local highways authority, can it also form part of an individual property owner's registered title? What is the effect if a way is both adopted but also shown as within a registered title to a residential property?
Section 215 notice requiring maintenance of land
Section 215 notice requiring maintenance of landIntroductionThe purpose of section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) is to...
Can a Grampian condition be imposed in respect of works which require Planning Permission in their own right?
Bias and pre-determination in planning cases
Bias and pre-determination in planning casesScope of bias and pre-determination in planning casesBias and pre-determination can be an issue in...
Permitted development in Wales
Permitted development in WalesPlanning permission is required for the development of land. 'Development', which is defined in the Town and Country...
Declaratory relief of planning decisions
Declaratory relief of planning decisionsA declaratory judgment is a judgment identifying the rights, duties or obligations of one or more parties in a...
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest?Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are sites in...
If an unadopted highway has fallen into disrepair, what rights are open to an individual whose right to pass and repass over that highway has been restricted by the state of disrepair?
Are there any restrictions on amending the red line on a planning application before it is determined?
What is a town or village green?
What is a town or village green?The existence of a town or village green (TVG) may restrict or even prevent development. It is a criminal offence to...
Material change of use
Material change of useControl of developmentPursuant to section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), planning permission is...
Is there a limitation period for water authorities to require a build over agreement to be entered into (for example, if a building had been in existence for 12 years without a relevant build over agreement in place)? Are there any specific powers to require a build over agreement to be entered into retrospectively (if the authority owned the sewer prior to the 2011 transfer)?
Implementing a CPO—notice to treat and General Vesting Declaration
Implementing a CPO—notice to treat and General Vesting DeclarationContextThe confirmation of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) does not vest title in...
The Crichel Down Rules
The Crichel Down RulesThe Crichel Down Rules (the Rules) require that in certain circumstances, surplus government land that was acquired by, or under...
Associated legal terms
Compulsory Purchase Order
Public bodies, such as local planning authorities, have compulsory purchase powers to enable them to carry out their statutory functions. A compulsory purchase order (CPO) is an order made by a public body under statutory powers to enable them to acquire land to carry out statutory functions, such as to develop land or construct road schemes.
Development consent order
A consent granted by the Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008 for the construction and operation of a nationally significant infrastructure project in England for transport, energy, water or waste. A DCO combines a grant of planning permission with certain other separate consents, including listed building consent.
Gross Development Value (GDV)
The aggregate capital value of the proposed scheme assuming the development is complete.
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