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
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published its response to the 2025 technical consultation on planning committee...
This week's edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a consultation on reforms to planning application fees and local fee setting in England; a...
On 25 March 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a policy paper setting out a package of temporary planning,...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its policy statement on section 106 delivery in England, incorporating...
This consultation seeks views on proposals to introduce a new national default fee schedule for planning applications and a framework for local fee...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum on its membership of the EU, with a majority voting in favour of the UK leaving the EU, a process known as...
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) received Royal Assent on 23 October 2023. It sets out significant reform of the...
ContextThe Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) sets out a development consent regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in the fields...
ContextEnvironmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of a project’s likely significant environmental effects. EIA must be carried out for...
This Tracker is designed to assist planning practitioners keep up-to-date with Brexit legislation which will impact their particular areas of...
Latest Planning Precedents
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...
AGREEMENTrelating toliabilities arising from an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 [and [insert other...
date [date]Parties1[name of Seller] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [number]) whose registered office is at]...
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
National Policy Statement
Statutory documents published under the Planning Act 2008 setting out national policy on particular types of nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). NPSs establish the need case for a specific type of development and provide the framework within which the Secretary of State makes decisions on NSIP applications for development consent.
Residual Appraisal
An appraisal of land based on a potential development scheme.
Town and Village Green
Land used by local people for lawful sports and pastimes ‘as of right’ (ie without permission, force or secrecy) for at least 20 years. TVGs may restrict or prevent development and it is a criminal offence to disturb or interfere with the use or enjoyment of a TVG.
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