A formal, written, legal document which states the decision made by a planning authority in relationship to an application, usually the result of a planning application including any conditions attached to the permission or in the case of a refusal the detailed reasons for the refusal.

A report accompanying and supporting a planning application to illustrate the process that has led to the development proposal, and to explain and justify the proposal in a structured way.

The legal definition of development is “the carrying out of building, mining, engineering or other operations in, on, under or over land, and the making of any material change in the use of buildings or other land” (Sec 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990), this covers virtually all construction activities and changes of use.

The process whereby a local planning authority determines planning applications. In dealing with planning applications authorities have regard to relevant development plan policies, any local financial considerations and any other material considerations.

development plans