Before you start building a site, you need to have planning permission for it. Planning permission is also needed if you want to change the use of the land. For example, from agricultural to residential, as might be the case for a new Gypsy and Traveller site.
Your local planning authority (LPA) is responsible for deciding whether a development should be approved or not so you will need to make a planning application to the LPA.
A planning officer will review the application and base their recommendation on whether they think the proposal complies with the policies in development plan for the area, which includes the Local Plan, or whether material considerations indicate otherwise. The Planning Portal has produced a helpful flow chart which explains the planning application process.
