Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

[F1 15C Local plans E+W

(1) Each local planning authority must prepare a document to be known as their “local plan”.

(2) Only one local plan may have effect in relation to a local planning authority’s area at any one time.

(3) The local plan must set out policies of the local planning authority (however expressed) in relation to the amount, type and location of, and timetable for, development in the local planning authority’s area.

(4) The local plan may include—

(a) other policies (however expressed) in relation to the use or development of land in the local planning authority’s area which are designed to achieve objectives that relate to the particular characteristics or circumstances of their area, any part of their area or one or more specific sites in their area;

(b) details of any infrastructure requirements, or requirements for affordable housing, to which development in accordance with the policies, included in the plan under subsection (3) or paragraph (a) of this subsection, would give rise;

(c) requirements with respect to design that relate to development, or development of a particular description, throughout the local planning authority’s area, in any part of their area or at one or more specific sites in their area, which the local planning authority consider should be met for planning permission for the development to be granted.

(5) The Secretary of State may prescribe further matters which the local plan may, or must, deal with.

(6) The local plan must be designed to secure that the use and development of land in the local planning authority’s area contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.

(7) The local plan must take account of any local nature recovery strategy that relates to all or part of the local planning authority’s area, including in particular—

(a) the areas identified in the strategy as areas which—

(i) are, or could become, of particular importance for biodiversity, or

(ii) are areas where the recovery or enhancement of biodiversity could make a particular contribution to other environmental benefits,

(b) the priorities set out in the strategy for recovering or enhancing biodiversity, and

(c) the proposals set out in the strategy as to potential measures relating to those priorities.

(8) The local plan must take account of an assessment of the amount, and type, of housing that is needed in the local planning authority’s area, including the amount of affordable housing that is needed.

(9) The local plan must not—

(a) include anything that is not permitted or required by or under subsections (3) to (5) or (10) or regulations under section 15CA(8)(a), or

(b) be inconsistent with or (in substance) repeat any national development management policy.

(10) References in this section to development do not include minerals and waste development, but where the local planning authority is the minerals and waste planning authority for any part of their area, their local plan may incorporate all or part of their minerals and waste plan.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 15A-15LH and cross-headings substituted for ss. 15-37 and cross-heading (3.3.2026 for the purpose of making regulations only, excluding ss. 15A-15AI, 15K and 15LE(2)(a)(b)(c)(k)(l)(3); 25.3.2026 in so far as not already in force for the insertion of ss. 15B(1)(2)(a)(c)-(i)(3)-(12), 15BA-15C, 15CA(1)-(6)(a)-(g)(i)(7)(8), 15CB-15EA, 15G-15HA, 15HC-15JB, 15L-15LD, 15LE(1)(2)(d)-(j)(m)-(p)(3)(4), 15LF-15LG and 15LH (in part), otherwise prosp.) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), s. 255(3)(b), Sch. 7 (with s. 247); S.I. 2026/169, regs. 2, 3(b) (with Schs. 1, 2) (as amended by S.I. 2026/333, regs. 1(2), 2)