Town planning “The process by which a balance is maintained between the need to use and develop land and buildings and the protection of the environment.”
So goes the definition, but the role of planning in reconciling the often conflicting requirement of property owners, local communities, the electorate and politicians is, in reality, seldom an easy one as many of the stories in national and local papers testify.
The Law
Modern day planning control dates back to the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Since then, planning has experienced repeated layers of legislation, case law, administrative change and what sometimes seems to be an almost daily change in policy and practice.
Given that planning issues are now high on the political agenda - green belt protection, housing need, urban regeneration, out of town retail, leisure and transportation issues, environmental protection, sustainability, the desire to recoup development value –the list goes on – the planning system will continue to evolve.
Thus a knowledge of past and present frameworks, and a view of what tomorrows legislation will bring is key to providing informed planning advice.