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Town and Country Planning Act 1971

Town and Country Planning Act 1971

1971 c. 78 · 295 provisionsView on legislation.gov.uk

DB Symmetry Ltd and another v Swindon Borough Council [2022] UKSC 33
Dill v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and another [2020] UKSC 20
London Borough of Lambeth v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and others [2019] UKSC 33
R (on the application of DN (Rwanda)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 7
R (on the application of Wright) v Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd and Forest of Dean District Council [2019] UKSC 53
South Bucks District Council and another (Respondents) v Porter (FC) (Appellant) [2004] UKHL 33

Part I: Administration

Section 1: Local planning authorities
Section 2: Planning committees and joint advisory committees
Section 3: Delegation of functions to councils of county districts
Section 4: Delegation of functions to officers of local authorities
Section 5: Local planning authorities in Greater London

Part II: Development Plans

Section 6: Survey of planning areas
Section 7: Preparation of structure plans
Section 8: Publicity in connection with preparation of structure plans
Section 9: Approval or rejection of structure plan by Secretary of State
Section 10: Alteration of structure plans
Section 11: Preparation of local plans
Section 12: Publicity in connection with preparation of local plans
Section 13: Inquiries, etc. with respect to local plans
Section 14: Adoption and approval of local plans
Section 15: Alteration of local plans
Section 16: Disregarding of representations with respect to development authorised by or under other enactments
Section 17: Default powers of Secretary of State
Section 18: Supplementary provisions as to structure and local plans
Section 19: Application of Part II to Greater London
Section 20: Meaning of "development plan"
Section 21: Commencement of Part II and interim provisions

Part III: General Planning Control

Section 22: Meaning of "development" and "new development"
Section 23: Development requiring planning permission
Section 24: Development orders
Section 25: Form and content of applications
Section 26: Publication of notices of applications
Section 27: Notification of applications to owners and agricultural tenants
Section 28: Publicity for applications affecting conservation areas
Section 29: Determination of applications
Section 30: Conditional grant of planning permission
Section 31: Directions etc. as to method of dealing with applications
Section 32: Permission to retain buildings or works or continue use of land
Section 33: Provisions as to effect of planning permission
Section 34: Registers of applications and decisions
Section 35: Reference of applications to Secretary of State
Section 36: Appeals against planning decisions
Section 37: Appeal in default of planning decision
Section 38: Review of planning decisions where compensation claimed
Section 39: Provisions supplementary to s.38
Section 40: Development by local authorities and statutory undertakers with authorisation of government department
Section 41: Limit of duration of planning permission
Section 42: Outline planning permission
Section 43: Provisions supplementary to ss.41 and 42
Section 44: Termination of planning permission by reference to time limit
Section 45: Power to revoke or modify planning permission
Section 46: Unopposed revocation or modification
Section 47: Constitution of Planning Inquiry Commission
Section 48: References to a Planning Inquiry Commission
Section 49: Procedure on reference to a Planning Inquiry Commission
Section 50: Appeal to independent tribunal
Section 51: Orders requiring discontinuance of use or alteration or removal of buildings or works
Section 52: Agreements regulating development or use of land
Section 53: Applications to determine whether planning permission required

Part IV: Additional Control in Special Cases

Section 54: Lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest
Section 55: Control of works for demolition, alteration or extension of listed buildings
Section 56: Provisions supplementary to s.55
Section 57: Acts causing or likely to result in damage to listed buildings
Section 58: Building preservation notice in respect of building not listed
Section 59: Planning permission to include appropriate provision for preservation and planting of trees
Section 60: Tree preservation orders
Section 61: Provisional tree preservation orders
Section 62: Replacement of trees
Section 63: Control of advertisements
Section 64: Application for planning permission not needed for advertisements complying with regulations
Section 65: Proper maintenance of waste land
Section 66: Meaning of "industrial building"
Section 67: Industrial development certificates
Section 68: Exemption of certain classes of development
Section 69: Power to vary exemption limit as to industrial floor space
Section 70: Restrictions or conditions attached to certificates
Section 71: Provisions as to conditions imposed under s.70
Section 72: Provision for cases where certificate withheld
Section 73: Meaning of "office premises"
Section 74: Office development permits
Section 75: Exemption by reference to office floor space
Section 76: Mixed industrial and office development
Section 77: Restrictions or conditions attached to office development permits
Section 78: Planning permission for erection of building where no office development permit required
Section 79: Planning permission for alteration or extension of building where no office development permit required
Section 80: Planning permission for erection of two or more buildings where no office development permit required
Section 81: Provisions supplementary to ss.78 to 80
Section 82: Provisions as to conditions imposed or implied in pursuance of these provisions
Section 83: Development in metropolitan region: planning permission granted before passing of Act of 1965
Section 84: Annual report
Section 85: Interpretation of these provisions
Section 86: Temporary operation of these provisions

Part V: Enforcement of Control under Parts III and IV

Section 87: Power to serve enforcement notice
Section 88: Appeal against enforcement notice
Section 89: Penalties for non-compliance with enforcement notice
Section 90: Power to stop further development pending proceedings on enforcement notice
Section 91: Execution and cost of works required by enforcement notice
Section 92: Effect of planning permission on enforcement notice
Section 93: Enforcement notice to have effect against subsequent development
Section 94: Certification of established use
Section 95: Grant of certificate by Secretary of State on referred application or appeal against refusal
Section 96: Power to serve listed building enforcement notice
Section 97: Appeal against listed building enforcement notice
Section 98: Penalties for non-compliance with listed building enforcement notice
Section 99: Execution and cost of works required by listed building enforcement notice
Section 100: Enforcement by, or by direction of, the Secretary of State
Section 101: Works for preservation of unoccupied listed building in cases of urgency
Section 102: Penalties for non-compliance with tree preservation order
Section 103: Enforcement of duties as to replacement of trees
Section 104: Penalty for non-compliance with notice as to waste land
Section 105: Appeal to magistrates' court against notice as to waste land
Section 106: Further appeal to the Crown Court
Section 107: Execution and cost of works required by notice as to waste land
Section 108: Enforcement of orders under s.51
Section 109: Enforcement of control as to advertisements
Section 110: Supplementary provisions as to appeals to Secretary of State under Part V
Section 111: Recovery of expenses of local planning authorities under Part V

Part VI: Acquisition and Appropriation of Land and Related Provisions

Section 112: Compulsory acquisition of land in connection with development and for other planning purposes
Section 113: Compulsory acquisition of land by Secretary of State for the Environment
Section 114: Compulsory acquisition of listed building in need of repair
Section 115: Repairs notice as preliminary to compulsory acquisition under s.114
Section 116: Compensation on compulsory acquisition of listed building
Section 117: Minimum compensation in case of listed building deliberately left derelict
Section 118: Extinguishment of rights over land compulsorily acquired
Section 119: Acquisition of land by agreement
Section 120: Acquisition of land for purposes of exchange
Section 121: Appropriation of land forming part of common etc.
Section 122: Appropriation of land held for planning purposes
Section 123: Disposal of land held for planning purposes
Section 124: Development of land held for planning purposes
Section 125: Special provisions as to features and buildings of architectural and historic interest
Section 126: Management etc. of listed buildings acquired by local authority or Secretary of State
Section 127: Power to override easements and other rights
Section 128: Use and development of consecrated land and burial grounds
Section 129: Use and development of land for open spaces
Section 130: Displacement of persons from land acquired or appropriated
Section 131: Constitution of joint body to hold land acquired for planning purposes
Section 132: Modification of incorporated enactments for purposes of Part VI
Section 133: Interpretation of Part VI

Part VII: Compensation for Planning Decisions Restricting New Development

Section 134: Scope of Part VII
Section 135: Derivation of unexpended balance from claims under Part VI of Act of 1947
Section 136: Original unexpended balance of established development value
Section 137: Claim holdings, their areas and values
Section 138: Adjustment of claim holdings
Section 139: General provision for continuance of original unexpended balance
Section 140: Reduction or extinguishment of balance in consequence of compensation
Section 141: Reduction or extinguishment of balance on initiation of new development
Section 142: Reduction or extinguishment of balance on acquisition of land under compulsory powers
Section 143: Reduction or extinguishment of balance in consequence of severance or injurious affection
Section 144: Supplementary provisions as to deductions from original balance
Section 145: Provision of information relating to unexpended balance
Section 146: General provision as to right to compensation
Section 147: Planning decisions not ranking for compensation
Section 148: No compensation if certain other development permitted
Section 149: Further exclusions from compensation
Section 150: Grant of planning permission treated as subject to notional condition
Section 151: Notice under s.72 treated as planning decision
Section 152: General provisions as to amount of compensation
Section 153: Assessment of depreciation
Section 154: General provisions as to claims for compensation
Section 155: Effect on claims of direction under s.38
Section 156: Determination of claims
Section 157: Payment of compensation
Section 158: Apportionment and registration of compensation
Section 159: Recovery of compensation on subsequent development
Section 160: Amount recoverable, and provisions for payment or remission thereof
Section 161: Amount recovered not to be deducted from unexpended balance
Section 162: Mortgages, rentcharges and settlements
Section 163: Calculation of value

Part VIII: Compensation for Other Planning Restrictions

Section 164: Compensation where planning permission revoked or modified
Section 165: Application of s.164 to special cases of refusal or conditional grant of planning permission
Section 166: Registration and apportionment of compensation for depreciation
Section 167: Contribution by Secretary of State towards compensation in certain cases
Section 168: Recovery, on subsequent development, of compensation under s.164
Section 169: Compensation for planning decisions restricting development other than new development
Section 170: Compensation in respect of orders under s.51
Section 171: Compensation for refusal of consent to alteration, etc. of listed building
Section 172: Compensation where listed building consent revoked or modified
Section 173: Compensation for loss or damage caused by service of building preservation notice
Section 174: Compensation in respect of tree preservation orders
Section 175: Compensation in respect of requirement as to replanting of trees
Section 176: Compensation for restrictions on advertising
Section 177: Compensation for loss due to stop notice
Section 178: General provisions as to compensation for depreciation under Part VIII
Section 179: Determination of claims for compensation

Part IX: Provisions Enabling Owner to Require Purchase of his Interest

Section 180: Purchase notice on refusal or conditional grant of planning permission
Section 181: Action by council on whom purchase notice is served
Section 182: Procedure on reference of purchase notice to Secretary of State
Section 183: Action by Secretary of State in relation to purchase notice
Section 184: Power to refuse to confirm purchase notice where land has restricted use by virtue of previous planning permission
Section 185: Power to refuse to confirm purchase notice in respect of office premises
Section 186: Effect of Secretary of State's action in relation to purchase notice
Section 187: Special provisions as to compensation where purchase notice served
Section 188: Purchase notice in respect of order revoking or modifying planning permission
Section 189: Purchase notice in respect of order requiring discontinuance of use or alteration or removal of buildings or works
Section 190: Purchase notice on refusal or conditional grant of listed building consent
Section 191: Purchase notices in other cases
Section 192: Scope of these provisions
Section 193: Power to serve blight notice
Section 194: Objection to blight notice
Section 195: Reference of objection to Lands Tribunal
Section 196: Effect of valid blight notice
Section 197: Compensation for compulsory purchase of historic buildings and of land in clearance areas
Section 198: Withdrawal of blight notice
Section 199: Effect on powers of compulsory acquisition of counter-notice disclaiming intention to acquire
Section 200: Death of claimant after service of blight notice
Section 201: Power of mortgagee to serve blight notice
Section 202: Saving for claimant's right to sell whole hereditament, etc.
Section 203: Meaning of "owner-occupier" and "resident owner-occupier"
Section 204: Special provisions as to partnerships
Section 205: "Appropriate authority" for purposes of these provisions
Section 206: "Appropriate enactment"for purposes of these provisions
Section 207: General interpretation of these provisions
Section 208: No withdrawal of constructive notice to treat

Part X: Highways

Section 209: Highways affected by development: orders by Secretary of State
Section 210: Footpaths and bridleways affected by development: orders by local planning authorities, etc.
Section 211: Highways crossing or entering route of proposed new highway, etc.
Section 212: Order extinguishing right to use vehicles on highway
Section 213: Provision of amenity for highway reserved to pedestrians
Section 214: Extinguishment of public rights of way over land held for planning purposes
Section 215: Procedure for making of orders by Secretary of State
Section 216: Procedure in anticipation of planning permission, etc.
Section 217: Confirmation of orders made by other authorities
Section 218: Compulsory acquisition of land in connection with highways
Section 219: Concurrent proceedings in connection with highways
Section 220: Provisions as to telegraphic lines
Section 221: Application of s.32 of Mineral Workings Act 1951 to orders under Part X

Part XI: Statutory Undertakers

Section 222: Meaning of "operational land"
Section 223: Cases in which land is to be treated as not being operational land
Section 224: Meaning of "the appropriate Minister"
Section 225: Applications for planning permission by statutory undertakers
Section 226: Development requiring authorisation of government department
Section 227: Revocation or modification of permission to develop operational land
Section 228: Order requiring discontinuance of use etc. of operational land
Section 229: Acquisition of land of statutory undertakers
Section 230: Extinguishment of rights of way, and rights as to apparatus, of statutory undertakers
Section 231: Orders under s.230
Section 232: Notice for same purposes as s.230 but given by statutory undertakers to developing authority
Section 233: Extension or modification of functions of statutory undertakers
Section 234: Procedure in relation to orders under s.233
Section 235: Relief of statutory undertakers from obligations rendered impracticable
Section 236: Objections to orders under ss.233 and 235
Section 237: Right to compensation in respect of certain decisions and orders
Section 238: Measure of compensation to statutory undertakers
Section 239: Exclusion of s.238 at option of statutory undertakers
Section 240: Procedure for assessing compensation where s.238 applies
Section 241: Special provisions as to display of advertisements on operational land

Part XII: Validity of Planning Instruments and Decisions and Proceedings Relating Thereto

Section 242: Validity of development plans and certain orders, decisions and directions
Section 243: Validity of enforcement notices and similar notices
Section 244: Proceedings for questioning validity of development plans and certain orders under Parts X and XI
Section 245: Proceedings for questioning validity of other orders, decisions and directions
Section 246: Appeals to High Court relating to enforcement notices and similar notices
Section 247: Appeals to High Court against decisions under s.53
Section 248: Special provisions as to decisions relating to statutory undertakers
Section 249: Special provisions as to orders subject to special parliamentary procedure

Part XIII: Financial Provisions

Section 250: Grants for development etc.
Section 251: Maximum amount of grants under s.250
Section 252: Supplementary provisions as to grants under s.250
Section 253: Grants for research and education
Section 254: Contributions by Ministers towards compensation paid by local authorities
Section 255: Contributions by local authorities and statutory undertakers
Section 256: Assistance for acquisition of property where objection made to blight notice in certain cases
Section 257: Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid by way of compensation
Section 258: Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid in respect of war-damaged land
Section 259: Sums recoverable from acquiring authorities reckonable for purposes of grant
Section 260: Expenses of government departments
Section 261: Payments under s.59 of Act of 1947 and Parts I and V of Act of 1954
Section 262: General provision as to receipts of Secretary of State
Section 263: Expenses of county councils and Greater London Council

Part XIV: Application of Act to Special Cases

Section 264: Power to modify Act in relation to minerals
Section 265: Modification of Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966
Section 266: Exercise of powers in relation to Crown land
Section 267: Agreements relating to Crown land
Section 268: Supplementary provisions as to Crown and Duchy interests
Section 269: Application of Act to Isles of Scilly
Section 270: Application to local planning authorities of provisions as to planning control and enforcement
Section 271: Application to local planning authorities of provisions as to listed buildings
Section 272: Special provisions as to statutory undertakers who are local planning authorities
Section 273: National Coal Board
Section 274: Ecclesiastical property
Section 275: Settled land, and land of universities and colleges

Part XV: Miscellaneous and Supplementary Provisions

Section 276: Default powers of Secretary of State
Section 277: Designation of conservation areas
Section 278: Assumptions as to planning permission in determining value of interests in land
Section 279: Recovery, on subsequent development, of payments in respect of war-damaged land
Section 280: Rights of entry
Section 281: Supplementary provisions as to rights of entry
Section 282: Local inquiries
Section 283: Service of notices
Section 284: Power to require information as to interests in land
Section 285: Offences by corporations
Section 286: Combined applications
Section 287: Regulations and orders
Section 288: Licensing planning areas
Section 289: Act not excluded by special enactments
Section 290: Interpretation
Section 291: Consequential amendments
Section 292: Transitional provisions, savings and repeals
Section 293: Saving for Interpretation Act 1889 s.38
Section 294: Commencement
Section 295: Short title and extent

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.

Town and Country Planning Act 1971

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