UK Planning system

Question 1

What is the UK planning system?

Answer 1

A system that allows local authorities to have a legal duty to prepare plans that set out what can be built and where, within the boundaries of each authority. Updated by an Act of Parliament in 2004

Question 2

What are the two levels of planning?

Answer 2

Regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks

Question 3

What are regional spatial strategies?

Answer 3

Each region of England and Wales has a Regional planning body that prepares the region strategy. They are strategies designed to manage space within a region, such as for development of homes.

Question 4

What are local development frameworks?

Answer 4

Planning on a smaller scale, these frameworks are for each local authority eg. Elmbridge. It’s a folder of documents that sets out how an area may change over the next few years

Question 5

What must plans do?

Answer 5

• Take into account the sustainable needs of future communities
• Consider the environment and areas protected from developments (eg. greenbelt and national parks)

Question 6

What are the 3 things that local authority planners do?

Answer 6

• Listen to the local community (democracy)
• Listen to the organisations responsible proposal
• Have overall development control

Question 7

What concerns the current planning act?

Answer 7

• Whether or not a development can be built on a plot of land in a particular loyalty, it’s appearance and how it will relate to it’s surroundings

Question 8

Who exercises control over applications?

Answer 8

The local authority, to which an application has been submitted

Question 9

Who considers applications and advises?

Answer 9

A committee of councillors who are advised by the council’s professional planning officers