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  1. Welcome to Planning Portal
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  3. About the Planning System
  4. Introduction

About the Planning System

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  1. Introduction
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Introduction

Planning control is the process of managing the development of land and buildings. The purposes of this process are to save what is best of our heritage and to improve the infrastructure upon which we depend for a civilised existence.

Your local planning authority is responsible for deciding whether a development, anything from an extension on a house to a new shopping centre, should go ahead.

The Government has published a plain English guide giving an overview of how the planning system works in England1.

  1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plain-english-guide-to-the-planning-system

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    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.