Foreword

Understanding the planning system and its processes is essential for anyone engaged in development and obtaining the relevant planning consents are key components of successful project delivery.

The National Planning Policy Framework is a key part of the government’s reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible. The framework sets out the government’s policy for decision-takers, both in drawing up plans and making decisions about planning applications, and has been the cornerstone in progressive reform of the planning process.

This guide usefully charts the planning processes against the stages of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013, setting out the routes to achieving consent for development and the strategies that can be adopted, and their implications for project timescales and budgets.

It is clear that early consultation with the planning authority and key stakeholders for the development project contributes to a successful outcome.

The greater the understanding of how to successfully align the development process with planning, the better the planning system can be in responding to the demands put upon it.

Steve Quartermain
Chief Planner
Department for Communities and Local Government