Planning

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on planning. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
17.07.2013	Calling in a planning application
	This note describes the Secretary of State's power to "call-in" a planning application, to determine it himself.
16.07.2013	Enforcement of planning law
	This note covers planning authorities' powers to enforce planning law, including development undertaken without planning consent
02.07.2013	Planning for onshore wind farms
	This note sets out issues to do with the planning process for onshore wind and proposals for reform. It applies to England only.
11.06.2013	Planning Reform Proposals
	This note sets out recent Government proposals to reform certain aspects of planning law and policy.
04.06.2013	Neighbourhood planning
	The Localism Act 2011 provided for a new neighbourhood planning regime. The Act allows parish councils and groups of people from the community, called neighbourhood forums, to formulate Neighbourhood Development Plans and Orders, which can guide and shape development in a particular area. This note provides more information on this regime.

Research Papers

Date	Description
19.06.2013	Comparison of the planning systems in the four UK countries
	This paper has been prepared as an initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Research and Information Network (IPRIN) with contributions from research staff working for each of the four UK legislatures.
13.12.2012	Growth and Infrastructure Bill: Committee Stage Report
	This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill. It complements Research Paper 12/61 prepared for Commons Second Reading
01.11.2012	Growth and Infrastructure Bill
	The Growth and Infrastructure Bill seeks to reduce delays in the planning system and to facilitate new development, through various means. It would allow planning obligations (section 106 agreements) relating to affordable housing to be renegotiated. To promote economic growth, it makes provision for a planned revaluation of business rates in England to be postponed and to create a new employment status of employee owner. Its second reading date has been moved from 30 October to 5 November 2012.
03.10.2012	Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report
	This is a report on the Public Bill Committee Stage of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. It is designed to complement the Research Paper Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (RP 12/33), which covers in more detail the background to the Bill
07.06.2012	Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
	The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill introduces reforms in a number of areas.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
23.06.2011	The abolition of regional spatial strategies: a planning vacuum.
	Government response. Communities and Local Government report [Commons]
28.02.2011	The abolition of regional spatial strategies.
	Communities and Local Government Select Committee report [Commons]
02.11.2009	Need and impact: planning for town centres.
	Government response. Communities and Local Government; Communities and Local Government Select Committee report [Commons]
13.07.2009	Need and impact: planning for town centres.
	Communities and Local Government Select Committee report [Commons]
17.06.2009	Planning for homes: speeding up planning applications for major housing developments in England.
	Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
05.12.2011	DERELICT LAND AT WELLINGTON STREET / CROSS LANE, MANCHESTER
	That this House expresses its disgust with Mr R. Street of Woodhouses, Manchester, landowner and Associated British Foods PLC, head lessee, whose avarice and lack of concern mean that ...
14.11.2011	DEVELOPMENT IN BOLTON-LE-SANDS
	That this House notes that Lancaster City Council has granted planning permission for 77 new homes on a greenfield site in Bolton-le-Sands; further notes that the only reason the Council ...
19.01.2011	CARTER RUCK
	That this House notes with concern the report in The Guardian of 19 January 2011 that the solicitors Carter Ruck threatened the Soil Association with libel proceedings in order to bully ...
08.12.2010	GE LIGHTING SITE, LEICESTER
	That this House notes with concern that, four years after the GE Lighting factory on Melton Road in Leicester closed, the problem of contaminated land has not been resolved; further ...
03.12.2010	NORTH WEST PLANNING AID
	That this House recognises the work carried out by the North West Planning Aid (NWPA) service, that for over 30 years has provided invaluable help to local individual and groups and ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
24.12.2012	Growth and Infrastructure Bill (HL Bill 72 of 2012-13)
	The purpose of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill is to promote investment in infrastructure projects, reduce delays in the planning system and introduce a new employment status of employee shareholder. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 8 January 2013.
09.11.2012	Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (HL Bill 45 of 2012-13)
	The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill includes measures for changes to competition policy, to employment law, and for reducing regulation, as well as provisions on the Green Investment Bank, directors' remuneration, copyright and planning. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.
27.05.2011	Localism Bill (HL Bill 71 of 2010-12)
	This Library Note summarises proceedings at the Localism Bill's final stages in the House of Commons and provides background information for the Bill's second reading debate in the House of Lords.
08.01.2010	Debate on 14th January: The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. LLN 2010/001
	Debate on 14th January: The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. This Library Note aims to provide background reading for the debate to be held on Thursday 14th January: 'To call attention to the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change' The UN Conference on Climate Change took place in Copenhagen from 7th-19th December 2009. This Note explains the significance of the Conference in the context of previous international agreements on climate change, sets out the major disagreements that marred the negotiating process in Copenhagen and summarises the key elements contained in the final Copenhagen Accord. It considers analysis of the Accord's achievements and shortcomings, and summarises the reactions of key nations and interest groups.

POST Papers

Date	Description
05.02.2013	Biodiversity & Planning Decisions
	Built developments and mineral extraction can bring social benefits. However, if developments decrease biodiversity there could be a net loss of human well-being. Planning policy is devolved and this POSTnote sets out how the information on impacts of proposed developments on biodiversity is given to planners in England. It also summarises approaches to enhance biodiversity and avoid, mitigate and compensate for negative impacts.
15.03.2012	Livestock Super Farms
	This POSTnote examines the current issues surrounding intensification of livestock production in the UK.
15.09.2011	Marine planning
	This POSTnote describes the marine planning process and considers the challenges it will face.
01.06.2011	Landscapes of the future, June 2011
	This POSTnote examines how policy structures, including planning reforms, might deliver land use systems that meet the challenges of projected population increases, climate change and economic growth with limited land and natural resources.
01.07.2007	Urban flooding, July 2007
	Urban flooding, July 2007. POSTnote 07/289.