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
Planning analysis: In Guardians of Whitewebbs v Enfield LBC, the High Court quashed planning permission for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s proposed...
Planning analysis: In Aaron Scott Canham v Calderdale MBC, the Planning Court held that the common law rule against apparent bias does not apply to a...
The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) has published its 2025–26 report on digital planning services in Wales, commissioned by the Welsh...
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published non-statutory guidance on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for Nationally Significant...
The Planning Inspectorate has updated eight nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) advice pages in response to amendments to the...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained.This Practice Note provides background reading on the key forms and principles of...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained.On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum on its membership of the EU, with a...
The freedom of information (FOI) case tracker records and summarises key decisions and case law rulings relating to the enforcement of the Freedom of...
The UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU took effect at 11 pm on 31 January 2020 (exit day). At this point, the withdrawal period under Article 50 TEU...
When a public body receives a claim form for judicial review, the first step is to consider whether the claim has been brought in time. For further...
Latest Planning Precedents
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 Seller] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [number]) whose registered office is at]...
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...
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
Planning appeal
An appeal to the Secretary of State/Welsh Ministers by an applicant against a planning decision, such as a refusal to grant permission or the imposition of unreasonable conditions, or the failure to make a decision within the relevant time limit. Appeals proceed via written representations, a hearing or an inquiry.
Planning Judicial Review
A means of challenging the lawfulness of an act or omission by a public body, which has a sufficient public element. Planning judicial review is dealt with in a specialist Planning Court under rules set out in s 31 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 and CPR 54.
Public right of way
Highways that allow the public a legal right of passage, including footpaths, bridleways, Byways Open to All Traffic and restricted byways. PROW have the same legal status and protection as highways and remain in existence until legally closed, diverted or extinguished. It is a criminal offence to obstruct a PROW.
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