The planning system is a national system to manage the use and development of land and buildings. The aim of the system is to create better places for people to live, work and play in. To do this, it has to strike a balance between allowing development of land and buildings to support economic development, and provide the things we need (like homes, jobs, shops and transport), whilst improving and conserving public spaces, heritage, amenities and the environment, and help to tackle climate change.
How does the planning system work?
The planning system has two main parts to it:
- Plan-making
Plans known as Local Plans and neighbourhood plans (if there is one) set out how an area will develop over time and guide new building to help ensure that there is a balance between development and conservation of the environment in the public interest. Some areas with elected Mayors or combined authorities also have a spatial development strategy. Together, these plans form the ‘development plan’ for an area. They must be prepared in line with national policy and guidance.
- Managing development
New development and building works, and how land and buildings are used, are all managed though a process of planning permission. This is sometimes called ‘development management’.
All applications for planning permission are decided by the local planning authority in line with policies in the development plan (Local and neighbourhood plans and, where relevant, the spatial development strategy) unless there are strong reasons or ‘material considerations’ to indicate otherwise.
Section 3 of this guide focus specifically on plan-making, whilst Section 4 looks in more detail at managing development.