Planning applications and decisions

An application for planning permission for development is made to the local planning authority (LPA). This will normally be the district council or London Borough, or the county or county borough council in Wales.

'County matters' are the responsibility of county councils in non-metropolitan areas. These include the winning and working of minerals and the deposit of waste.

Full or outline planning applications

An application for outline planning permission provides a decision on the general principles of how a site can be developed. Outline planning permission is granted subject to conditions requiring the subsequent approval of one or more ‘reserved matters’. Once outline planning permission has been granted, 'reserved matters’ applications must be made within three years, before any detailed work could go ahead.

An application for full planning permission results in a decision on the detailed proposals of how a site can be developed. See Practice Notes: Applying for planning permission—procedure and Discharging reserved matters conditions on outline planning permissions.

Procedure

The planning application procedure is set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (DMPO 2015), SI 2015/595

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Latest Local Government News

Local Government weekly highlights—11 September 2025

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of R (AA) v Waltham Forest LBC, which sets out that judicial review is correct route to challenge section 189A plans under HA 1996; Chidswell Action Group v Kirklees Council, in which the court quashed planning permission where the section 106 agreement was not published pre-decision and Wild Justice v Pembrokeshire Coast NPA, in which the court quashed planning permission due to the authority's failure to publish a key ecological report. Case reports include R (AN) v Barking and Dagenham LBC, in which the court found the housing assessment breached statutory duties under HA 1996, CA 2004 and EqA 2010; R (Andrew Rickards) v East Hertfordshire DC, in which the court allowed a judicial review challenge of the LA's prior grant of approval to erect Green Belt polytunnels; R (Anaesthetists United Ltd) v GMC, in which the court rejected a judicial review application questioning whether GMC acted lawfully in implementing regulatory powers under Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 and A Local Authority v A Mother and others, in which the court rejected the LA care order applications in finding the parents' travel plans did not constitute unreasonable parenting. It also includes Ofsted's announcement of major changes to education inspection frameworks, the Education Committee's launch of an inquiry into early years sector reforms and further updates on Social housing, Healthcare, Public procurement, Education, Governance, Social care and Environmental law and climate change.

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