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
On 16 July 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a consultation entitled ‘Time-limited relief from the Community...
The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), outlining its role in England's...
Planning analysis: The government has published a consultation seeking views on whether recent procedural reforms applying to judicial review...
On 16 July 2026, MPs debated the impact of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), raising concerns about flood risk, housing...
The Planning Inspectorate has updated its procedural guide for planning appeals relating to applications dated on or before 31 March 2026, with a...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
STOP PRESS: on 1 August 2023, the Cabinet Office published three new standard contract document collections, containing updated templates and guidance...
IntroductionPlanning decisions and actions by local planning authorities (LPAs), the Secretary of State and other public bodies can be challenged in...
Deciding which approach to scheme amendments to takeOnce planning permission for development has been granted it must be implemented in accordance...
Nationally significant infrastructure project consent regimeThe Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) sets out a development consent regime for nationally...
The Planning (Wales) Act 2026 (P(W)A 2026) was made on 27 April 2026. It brings together the principal legislation relating to town and country...
Latest Planning Precedents
ARCHIVED: This archived Precedent is drafted in the context of the previous/old Electronic Communications Code (the previous Code) (and provides...
Deed dated [insert date] under section 38 Highways Act 1980 relating to construction and adoption of roads at [insert text] between:Parties1[insert...
STOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS PRECEDENT IS DRAFTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PREVIOUS CODE...
Date [date]Parties1[name of Owner] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [number]) whose registered office is at]...
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...
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
Capital value
The sale/investment value of property or land as distinct from its rental value.
Developers Profit
The amount by which the total value of the development exceeds its total costs.
Developments of national significance
A type of planning regime operated by the Welsh Ministers for a large infrastructure project of national importance in Wales. The DNS regime provides a centralised decision-making process and is similar to the regime in England for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects under the Planning Act 2008, with some key differences.
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