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: government announcements on affordable housing funding and measures to improve section 106...
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance for developers on meeting mandatory biodiversity net gain...
Planning analysis: On 25 August 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published initial funding allocations under...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance to support home builders, local authorities and registered...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its Capacity to Build guidance to reflect the rebranding of the Council...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
STOP PRESS: A revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework was published on 17 August 2026. This content is being reviewed in light of...
Over the last decades, climate change has become an issue of ever-growing importance. With evolving scientific understanding of the causes of climate...
Overview of plan-making reforms under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023The planning system in England is plan-led: planning decisions must be...
New plan-making system in England under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) enacted...
Air quality is an important concern for both central government and local authorities. EU Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the...
Latest Planning Precedents
1. Name of applicant[insert details]2. If the applicant is requesting info on behalf of a third party, third party’s name[insert details]3. Address...
DATE [date]Parties1[name of Authority] of [address] (Authority)2[name of Licensee] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration...
Date [date]Parties1[name of Owner] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [number]) whose registered office is at]...
This Agreement is made on [insert date] of [insert month] [insert year]BETWEEN1[insert name], of [insert address] (‘Council’);2[insert name], of...
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
Affordable Housing
Housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the four definitions set out in the NPPF, namely:(i) Affordable housing for rent; (ii) Starter homes; (iii) Discounted market sales housing; (iv) Other affordable routes to home ownership.
Building Regulations
The Building Regulations 2010 impose minimum standards for carrying out specified works in or about buildings, energy conservation and access to and use of buildings. Building Regulations apply to: new buildings or extensions; installing, extending or altering services or fittings; alterations affecting stability; fire safety; access; and use requirements.
Use Classes Order
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 puts uses of land and buildings into categories known as 'use classes' and ‘sui generis’ uses (in a class of their own).
CONTACT US
