This Practice Note discusses appropriation of land for planning purposes by local authorities. It covers: the concept of acquiring and holding land for a statutory purpose, the statutory background to appropriating land for planning purposes under the Local Government Act 1972; appropriation of land for planning purposes as a precondition to the power to override easements under section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016; the internal procedure for appropriation by the local authority; best practice in the appropriation of land for planning purposes; and advantages and disadvantages of appropriation.