Every day, decisions are made about our surroundings: what homes, roads, offices, and shops are built and where, and what public spaces will be created and protected. These decisions affect us all. They affect where future generations can live, how we spend our leisure time, what jobs there are in our neighbourhoods, and how we feel about our surroundings. But while we know decisions about planning are important to us, the planning system can be hard to get to grips with.
The aim of this Handy Guide to Planning is to help people understand and engage in planning in their local area. It is intended to provide a brief overview of how the system works and highlight opportunities for people to get involved. For more detailed information, please browse our other resources on Planning Aid England’s advice website here. The guide covers the planning system in England only. Other parts of the UK have different planning systems.
The contents of the guide are as follows:
Section 2 – explains what planning is, how the planning system works and who is involved in planning.
Section 3 – focuses specifically on plan making (including information on Local Plans and neighbourhood planning).
Section 4 – looks at how development is managed (including information on the planning application process and planning appeals).
You should not rely on this guide as legal or professional advice and should consult a suitably qualified professional if you require specific advice or information. The RTPI Directory of Planning Consultants is available here.