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: analysis of the Court of Appeal’s decision quashing an injunction preventing the use of an...
The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the a planning update newsletter for October 2025, written for the chief planning officers at local...
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published a policy statement outlining the government’s approach to how the National...
Planning analysis: In Dharmeshkumar v SSLUHC, the High Court confirmed that extensive refurbishment works amounted to ‘development’ under section 55...
Planning analysis: The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision that temporarily barred the use of a hotel in Epping, Essex, to house asylum...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)—who administers CIL, when does CIL arise, and when and by whom must CIL be paidIntroductionThe Community...
Planning case tracker—2025The Planning case tracker is a list of key judgments from 2025 considered relevant to planning lawyers, with cases listed in...
BREEAM key requirementsWhat is BREEAM?The Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) is a method for evaluating...
Drafting a contract conditional on planningNature of the conditionIt is common for contracts for the sale of commercial property to be drafted on the...
Telecoms leases—the previous Electronic Communications Code—drafting points and due diligence [Archived]ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note is...
Latest Planning Precedents
Wayleave agreement—previous Electronic Communications CodeSTOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS...
Precedent s 38 agreementDeed dated [insert date] under section 38 Highways Act 1980 relating to construction and adoption of roads at [insert text]...
Environmental Information Regulations 2004—request for environmental information[Insert name of public authority][Insert public authority's address,...
Precedent s 106 deed of indemnityAGREEMENTrelating toliabilities arising from an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act...
Buyer’s CIL liability/Planning Liability termination clause1DefinitionsBiodiversity Gain•the biodiversity gain objective described in Schedule 7A of...
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
Assets of Community Value
Local community groups can nominate buildings/land for listing as ACVs. When ACVs come up for sale or change ownership, a moratorium on the sale of up to six months can be invoked, giving local groups an opportunity to bid to buy the asset on the open market.
Compulsory Purchase Order
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.
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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