The comprehensive re-building of Britain after the Second World War was already being planned by the Government in 1943.

In 1947 the Town & Country Planning Act was published, providing the first comprehensive basis for the control of development and land uses in this country. Before 1947 the use of land and development was largely uncontrolled, although some limitations were exercised through Public Health and local Acts.

The 1947 Act introduced a comprehensive system for the control of development and, since then (with some specific exceptions), no landowner has been entitled to carry out any development without first obtaining the necessary planning permission.

This early legislation has developed and evolved over the last 64 years into a complex web of inter-related laws and guidance, which today provide a comprehensive framework for the assessment of development in virtually every context.

These Acts are supported by a range of detailed Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPG's) and Statements (PPS’s), dealing with specific issues such as the Green Belt (PPG.2), Housing (PPS.3) or Flood Risk (PPS.25). Individual aspects of planning law are also explained more fully in Government Circulars or subject to specific Rules and Orders. The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) is one such order, which deals with forms of development that do not necessarily require planning permission.

WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?

There are very few instances today where Planning Permission is not needed to undertake development, therefore it is essential to understand what constitutes 'development' for the purposes of the Planning Acts.

Development is defined in statute as:

"... 'development' means 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 buildings or other land ..."  Planning Act 1990.

Here at KPG Design Associates, with our dedicated and thoroughly professional team, we are able to guide Clients through the maze of Planning Complexities or assume total responsibility for any project or scheme from inception to completion. We pride ourselves on our cost effectiveness and are constantly aware of Client budgets.