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

DateDescription
15.05.2012Planning for Constituency Cases
This note aims to assist MP's staff in replying to constiteuncy planning questions
15.05.2012Major Infrastructure Planning
This note deals with how applications for major infrastructure projects of national importance are decided.
15.05.2012Enterprise Zones
The Government has announced the location of 24 new Enterprise Zones in England. Businesses in these small areas will benefit from tax and planning concessions and superfast broadband.
08.05.2012Neighbourhood Planning in Localism Act
The Government announced a completely new neighbourhood planning regime in late 2010. The Localism Bill 2010-12 provides for this regime. This note explains the Bill.
08.05.2012London planning
London planning. By Christopher Barclay. SN/SC/1416.

Research Papers

DateDescription
12.04.2011Localism Bill: Committee Stage Report
This paper covers the Commons Committee Stage of the Bill, and complements Research Papers 11/02 and 11/03, prepared for Second Reading. The Bill covers a wide range of topics in local government, planning, housing and the governance of London. It was not substantially amended in Committee, although there were some minor technical Government amendments. However, at several points, Ministers agreed to look again at certain issues and consider whether to introduce amendments at Report Stage.
11.01.2011Localism Bill: Planning and Housing
This paper covers three parts of the Bill: Part 5 of the Bill will abolish regional planning, introduce a neighbourhood planning regime and abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission. Part 6 of the Bill will make significant changes to the way in which social housing is provided and will also repeal the legislation governing the provision of Home Information Packs (HIPs). This Part includes provisions that will enable the long awaited reform of council housing finance. Part 7 of the Bill will make changes to housing and regeneration functions in London. It will abolish the London Development Agency and introduce a regime for Mayoral Development Corporations. Changes to Greater London Authority governance will allow the delegation of functions by Ministers to the Mayor.
07.03.2008Planning Bill: Committee Stage Report
(Bill 71 of 2007-08)
06.12.2007Planning Bill
31.01.2007The Land Use (Gardens Protection etc) Bill

Select Committee Reports

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

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
05.12.2011DERELICT 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 ...
14.11.2011DEVELOPMENT 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 ...
19.01.2011CARTER 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 ...
08.12.2010GE 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 ...
03.12.2010NORTH 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

DateDescription
27.05.2011Localism 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.
08.01.2010Debate 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

DateDescription
15.03.2012Livestock Super Farms
This POSTnote examines the current issues surrounding intensification of livestock production in the UK.
15.09.2011Marine planning
This POSTnote describes the marine planning process and considers the challenges it will face.
01.06.2011Landscapes 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.
01.07.2007Urban flooding, July 2007
Urban flooding, July 2007. POSTnote 07/289.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library