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Town and Country Planning Act 1971

Town and Country Planning Act 1971

1971 c.78 · 295 provisions

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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About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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