Applications, appeals, permitted development, enforcement and planning strategy across England
Planning explanations, updates and practical guidance in video form
Planning in England
Most of Planning Geek’s detailed planning guidance is written for England. This page is the starting point if your land, home or development is in England.
England has its own planning legislation, national policy and permitted development regime. Although the four UK nations share a common planning history, the practical answers have diverged enough that treating planning law as one UK-wide system is now a reliable way to get the wrong answer.
For England, Planning Geek’s main library covers the subjects people most often need in practice. You can start with permitted development, Use Classes, planning applications, planning appeals and planning enforcement.
The planning system in England
Planning decisions in England are primarily made against the statutory development plan for the area, alongside other material considerations. National policy also matters. The current National Planning Policy Framework was published on 29th September 2026 and applies to England. It replaced the previous National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024.
The NPPF is not a substitute for the local development plan, and it does not replace the legislation behind planning applications, permitted development or enforcement. It sits alongside that legal framework and is a material consideration when plans are prepared and development proposals are decided.
Where to start on Planning Geek
- Permitted development for development which may not need a planning application
- Use Classes for understanding how land and buildings are classified
- Planning applications for the application process, conditions and decision making
- Planning appeals if permission has been refused or another appeal route is needed
- Planning enforcement for breaches, notices and enforcement appeals
- Common projects for practical questions about everyday building and development work
England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
If the site is not in England, do not rely on an English Planning Geek page unless it expressly says the guidance also applies there. Use our separate sections for Planning in Wales, Planning in Scotland and Planning in Northern Ireland.
Latest planning news from England
Our England news feed brings together the latest English planning stories while excluding stories categorised specifically to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can also browse the full Planning News in England archive.
Planning In England Page Created: 5th October 2026