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: court decisions in relation to the importance of procedural compliance in planning...
The Welsh Government has published its response to the recommendations from a 2021 review of the section 6 biodiversity duty under the Environment...
Planning analysis: Once a planning inquiry closes, there may be several months before the decision is determined by the Secretary of State. New...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has updated its Planning Practice Guidance on flood risk and coastal change. The amendments...
The Welsh Government has published the record of the Plenary held on 16 September 2025, in which the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, Julie...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
Lawful development certificatesWhat is a lawful development certificate?A lawful development certificate (LDC) is a certificate issued by a local...
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)—who administers CIL, when does CIL arise, and when and by whom must CIL be paidIntroductionThe Community...
Costs protection in environmental mattersOriginally produced in partnership with Landmark ChambersThe reason for special costs protection measures in...
Retained EU law and assimilated lawThis Practice Note provides an overview of retained EU law as it applied from 2021–23, including the key...
Planning key developments tracker under the Labour government—2024/25On 5 July 2024, a new Labour government was formed. This document tracks key...
Latest Planning Precedents
Precedent s 106 deed of indemnityAGREEMENTrelating toliabilities arising from an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act...
Wayleave agreement—previous Electronic Communications CodeSTOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS...
Buyer’s CIL liability/Planning Liability termination clause1DefinitionsBiodiversity Gain•the biodiversity gain objective described in Schedule 7A of...
Precedent compulsory purchase order indemnity agreementThis Agreement is made on [date]BETWEEN1[Council] whose principal place of business is...
Conservation covenant agreementThis is the first draft of a precedent conservation covenant agreement, to be made under section 117 of the Environment...
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
Gross Development Cost (GDC)
The total cost of undertaking a development (including acquisition, construction, fees, finance, abnormals etc).
Review Mechanism
Re-appraisals of a scheme, typically as part of the section 106 agreement, undertaken either prior to or post-implementation of a development in order to assess the viability.
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).
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