What is Planning

A Brief History

Town planning has always existed in some form. The rulers of Ancient Greece and Rome planned their cities with a view to accommodating victory parades. Mediaeval Lords planned their towns with regard to the need for defence. Formal Town Planning on a grand scale manifested itself in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

It was the industrial revolution which had the major impact on Town Planning. As a consequence of industry's need to locate near to supplies of coal, towns and cities mushroomed in growth. There was mass migration of population from the countryside to towns and the social arrangements in the towns were incapable of meeting the needs for housing and basic public services such as water and waste disposal.

During the nineteenth century there were a number of responses to these major problems. Local Authorities began to adopt by-laws for the construction of new housing built to minimum standards of water supply, sewage disposal, ventilation and light.

The Town Planning profession developed from these responses and various initiatives and the Town Planning Institute was founded in 1914 by a group of associated professionals including Architects, Doctors, Engineers and Surveyors. The Town Planning Institute subsequently developed Town Planning into a profession in its own right.

During the inter war years additonal problems manifested themselves. Cheap construction costs, mortgage finance available at low interest rates and technological advances led to a growth in home ownership and the decentralized growth of towns. Urban sprawl and ribbon development became a major feature of this period.

One of the responses to these problems was the introduction of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 which brought almost all development under control by making it subject to planning permission. Development plans were also to be prepared for every area of the country which would indicate the manner in which each area was to be developed.

The principles laid down by this Act still form the basis of planning in Britain today.

What is Development?

The term "development" is defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as follows:

• The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations, in, on, over or under land, or
• The making of any material change in the use of any building or other land.

There are cases where "development" is involved but where planning permission from the Local Authority is not required. Many categories of development are granted planning permission automatically by the Government because they are regarded as relatively minor and are generally acceptable. These categories are referred to as PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT.

Interpretation of your permitted development rights can be very complicated and it is worth checking with a member of the planning staff as to the current permitted development allowances applicable to your property, when proposing new works.

A booklet -"Planning, A guide for householders" is produced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and can be obtained from the Planning Control Section on request.

What is Development Control?

'Development Control' is the name given to the process of handling and deciding planning applications to develop land. It also involves taking action against unauthorised development.

Most building work, engineering work and use of land requires planning permission, and the purpose of development control is to ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with local and national planning guidance. Many of the issues relating to planning are contained on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website. The web site also has Planning Policy Guidance Notes which may assist you when making planning applications. 

The Planning Portal also offers a wide range of services and guidance on the planning system. The Planning Portal is an on-line resource for planning information and services set up to help anyone who would like to know more about the planning process in England and Wales.

The Development Control process seeks to ensure that new development proposals accord with the policies set out in the Local Plan for the area. It is concerned with what things look like and how they relate to their surroundings. It is distinct from the Building Control process which is concerned mainly with the structure of individual buildings and its effect upon the welfare of people using them.

The section is also responsible for the administration and management of matters relating to trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders and trees in Conservation Areas.

This work involves the survey and inspection of trees for inclusion in new Tree Preservation Orders, the consideration of proposals by owners to fell or prune trees covered by Orders, and where necessary, the provision of technical and professional advice to owners and developers on matters related to protected trees.