The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government: is the Minister in Government responsible for planning. The Secretary of State issues national planning policy and guidance. In a small number of cases, the Secretary of State makes decisions on a planning applications or appeals.
The Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales: is an executive agency of the government. Planning Inspectors are responsible for deciding most planning and enforcement appeals on behalf of the Secretary of State and are responsible for operating the planning process for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) and for plan-making.
Local planning authorities (LPAs): prepare planning policy documents (Local Plans) for their area and deal with planning applications for, and enforcement action against, individual development schemes. The local planning authority is usually the district council (or unitary authority in single tier areas), although county councils are typically responsible for transport and for minerals and waste planning. In national parks, planning functions are carried out by a park authority. To find your local authority see: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Planning officers: are employed by local authorities and are able to provide advice on planning matters. Many minor applications are decided by planning officers, acting under powers delegated by the local planning authority.
Councillors: represent the views of local residents in their local area. Councillors who sit on Planning Committees (often referred to as elected members) formally approve planning policy documents and decide large-scale and/or complex planning applications.
Communities: have powers to shape development through neighbourhood planning, a right introduced in 2011. See also Section 3 ‘What is neighbourhood planning?’.