PLANNING 101

Planning expertMartin Gainesets out what you need to know about the process to ensure a successful application from the outset

Getting planning permission can be a major hurdle for some, and it often feels like the system is impossible to navigate successfully. Whether you’re self building, extending or undertaking a conversion, having a better grasp of how the planning process works can save you time, money and heartache.

In this article, I’m exploring the history of the UK’s planning system, going right back to its foundation after the end the Second World War, how it functions today, and how you can use this information to make your way through the planning maze and achieve a successful end result.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1947

It can be surprising to learn that the UK had no real planning system prior to 1947. For hundreds of years, the country was largely rural and agrarian, and landowners mostly built whatever they wanted. This began to change with the industrial revolution, which created new pressures from an urbanising population. In the early 20th century, there was a new awareness of the need to control suburban sprawl and create better living conditions.

The end of the war brought a desire for meaningful change, as well as a need to rebuild cities that had been reduced to rubble. The result was the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, which established a new system under which local authorities would draw up plans to guide the development of their areas. It also meant that landowners would be required to make planning applications, which would be assessed in light of those plans.