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The Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1950
In 1950 we saw the first full revision of the GDO as it was known then. It was given the rather long title of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order and Development Charge Applications Regulations 1950. The Order applied across England and Wales.
This order replaced the Town & Country Planning (General Development) Order 1948.
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The 1950 Order consolidated the 1948 GDO, its two 1949 amendments and the separate 1948 application regulations. Permitted development continued to be granted subject to stated conditions, including limits on house extensions projecting beyond the front of the original dwellinghouse.
The 1950 change-of-use provisions also allowed a restaurant to change to certain shop uses, including a fried fish shop, tripe shop, pet shop or cats-meat shop.
The 1950 GDO contained 22 classes using Roman numerals, including a class for certain aerodrome development.
The unusually long title reflected the fact that the instrument also incorporated the Town and Country Planning (Making of Applications) Regulations 1948 (SI 1948/711).
SI 1950/728 was made on 8th May 1950, laid before Parliament on 9th May 1950 and came into operation on 22nd May 1950.
You can view the original version here.
One amending Order, SI 1958/1460, preceded the 1959 Order. Two further amending Orders followed in 1960 as part of the combined 1950 to 1960 framework; those later amendments are listed on the 1959 timeline page.
SI 1958/1460 – The Town and Country Planning General Development (Amendment) Order 1958 – download here
This order was replaced by The Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1959, although the 1959 version was also known as the Town and Country Planning General Development Orders, 1950 to 1959.
1950 in the GPDO timeline
1950 GDO updated: 24th September 2026