About Planning Law Topics we cover Our experts Our Top Sources News Practice Notes Precedents Q&As Featured Glossary

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.

Our Top Sources

GET A TRIAL

Latest Planning Q&As

Q&As
The definition of ‘affordable housing’ set out in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that affordable housing includes discounted market sales housing, which is housing ‘sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value’. What is the meaning of ‘local market value’ in this context?
Q&As
In determining a planning application does a local planning authority determine whether a development is sustainable before deciding whether the tilted balance in paragraph 11(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework is engaged?
Q&As
Are there any consequences if a council does not deliver a new local plan upon the expiry of the current one? Are there any avenues for a legal challenge against the council if the current local plan specifically includes a policy under which it states that the council will prepare and submit a new local plan by a specific date? What is the process for saving policies in the current plan by the expiry date?
Q&As
Can a Grampian condition be imposed in respect of works which require Planning Permission in their own right?
Q&As
Can a new freehold owner object to a Compulsory Purchaser Order (CPO) where the former owner had not objected when notices were originally served? The CPO will be examined at public inquiry in around three months. The confirming authority has confirmed that objections can technically still be received despite the expiry of the period for objections. However, does it make any difference for a new owner who undertook local searches prior to acquisition and should have been aware of the CPO?
Discover our Planning Q&As
VIEW Q&As

Associated legal terms

Community interest development

A community interest development is a property or regeneration project designed and operated primarily for community benefit rather than private profit. In UK and Irish legal practice, the term is descriptive rather than a defined statutory concept, and may encompass housing schemes, mixed‑use developments, community land trusts, social enterprises, and assets of community value.

Such developments commonly involve legal structures that lock in social purpose, for example community interest companies (CICs) in the UK, charities, co‑operatives, or community benefit societies, and may rely on planning obligations (section 106 agreements in England and Wales), community right‑to‑buy mechanisms, long leases, or restrictive covenants to secure ongoing community use.

In England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the phrase is often used in planning law, housing, public procurement, and regeneration projects, but without a uniform statutory definition. In Ireland, it is likewise used in policy, social housing and community-led development contexts rather than as a term of art.

Practitioners typically address community interest developments when structuring land ownership, drafting governance documents, securing funding, or negotiating with local authorities and public bodies to ensure long‑term community benefit and compliance with regulatory and charity law requirements.

Compulsory Purchase Order

/kəmˈpʌls(ə)ri/ /ˈpəːtʃɪs/ /ˈɔːdə/

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.

Permission in principle

A type of automatic planning consent for housing-led development allocated in an adopted local plan or neighbourhood plan, or included in a local brownfield register. The result of permission in principle, together with a grant of technical details consent, is a grant of full planning permission.
Discover our Planning legal terms
VIEW Glossary

Try it for free for 7 days

No Credit Card Required

No Downloads Necessary

**Trials are provided to all LexisNexis content, excluding Practice Compliance, Practice Management and Risk and Compliance, subscription packages are tailored to your specific needs. To discuss trialling these LexisNexis services please email customer service via our online form. Free trials are only available to individuals based in the UK, Ireland and selected UK overseas territories and Caribbean countries. We may terminate this trial at any time or decide not to give a trial, for any reason. Trial includes one question to LexisAsk during the length of the trial.