When to use this guide
- Appraising land, an extension, a change of use or a redevelopment proposal.
- Preparing an application, discharging conditions or proposing changes to an approved scheme.
- Receiving an enforcement enquiry or checking an existing development's lawful status.
What to check
Use these prompts with the responsible project team. Ticking a box does not certify compliance.
You can tick these prompts while reviewing the project.
Keep these records
- Planning history, constraints search and lawful-use evidence.
- Decision notice, approved drawings and applicable conditions or obligations.
- Condition-discharge and amendment decisions linked to site revisions.
Common mistakes
- Treating a planning approval as approval for structural design, fire safety or private land rights.
- Starting a condition-controlled activity because the main permission has been granted.
When to get specialist help
Seek planning advice from the local authority or a competent planner for uncertain lawful use, conditions, enforcement or material changes before committing to work.
Scope and edition
Sources reviewed 17 October 2026. This entry uses England's planning context; statutory extent does not mean Wales or other UK nations use identical procedures. Current local policy, conditions and subsequent legislation remain relevant.
Use the official source to check the current text, amendments not yet incorporated, commencement and project-specific transition. A published future edition is not automatically the rule applying to your work.
Official sources
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990 — latest available legislationPrimary planning legislation; check England-applicable provisions and amendments.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/8/contents
- When is permission required?England planning practice guidance on development and permission routes.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/when-is-permission-required
Source links lead to external official websites. We provide original explanatory notes and do not reproduce paid standards.
About this library
Independent, plain-English reference notes by Saeed Azarshab. The library covers the 42 subjects listed here; it is not every law affecting construction, an official government publication or a project-specific compliance decision. Building Regulations, Approved Documents, workplace safety duties and planning permissions have different roles.
Editorial source review: . Check the current official text, commencement dates, outstanding amendments and transitional arrangements before relying on a requirement. Publication date is not necessarily the date a rule applies. A relevant competent professional or authority must resolve project-specific questions.
Sources and lawful reuse
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. These are original practical summaries, with links to the official material. No government endorsement is implied. We do not host copies of proprietary BS, ISO or Eurocode standards, third-party diagrams or publisher layouts. Check each source’s rights notice before reuse.
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