Planning Circulars in England: guidance, Directions and their current status

 

Planning circulars are one of the older but still important parts of the planning system. They are used by government to explain legislation, policy and procedure in more detail. Some remain relevant today, while others have been replaced, cancelled or superseded by newer guidance.

The official GOV.UK Planning Circulars collection currently contains eight documents for England. It includes both numbered circulars and later Directions. However, that collection has not itself been updated since 2021 and does not list the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2026, which is published separately and remains in force alongside the 2024 Direction. This page therefore brings together the material in the Planning Circulars collection with that later Direction and explains the current status of each.

A word of caution: the GOV.UK collection should not be treated as a complete historical archive of every planning circular ever issued. It is the government’s current collection of planning circular material. Older circulars may appear in historic decisions and appeal documents even though they have since been withdrawn or replaced.

 

What is a planning circular?

 

GOV.UK describes planning circulars as non-statutory advice and guidance on particular issues, expanding on subjects referred to in legislation. They have also been used to explain policy and regulation more fully. Some circular material is described by government as quasi-legislative because it includes a Direction or requirement to take particular action.

That distinction matters. A circular is not an Act of Parliament or a statutory instrument merely because it carries a circular number. Equally, a Direction within this collection can impose procedural requirements which planning authorities must follow. Always check the status and legal basis of the particular document rather than relying on its age or title alone.

For the wider hierarchy, see our guide to planning policy in England, the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance.

 

Planning circulars and Directions currently listed for England

 

Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2026

Published: 31 March 2026
Status: Current

The 2026 Consultation Direction was made under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. GOV.UK confirms that it was published following the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 March 2026. It is currently in force alongside the 2024 Consultation Direction.

Read the 2026 Consultation Direction on GOV.UK →

 

Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024

Published: 26 January 2024
Status: Current – remains in force alongside the 2026 Direction

The 2024 Consultation Direction was issued following section 136 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. It replaced the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2021. The newer 2026 Direction did not simply wipe it away: GOV.UK currently lists both the 2024 and 2026 Directions as being in force.

Read the 2024 Consultation Direction on GOV.UK →

 

Arrangements for handling heritage applications Direction 2021

Published: 21 April 2021
Status: Current – replaces the 2015 Direction

This Direction sets out notification requirements for certain listed building consent applications. It covers notification to Historic England, the National Amenity Societies and the Secretary of State, and circumstances where Historic England’s own listed building consent applications are referred to the Secretary of State.

It replaced the equivalent 2015 Direction. Our conservation and heritage section explains the wider listed building and heritage framework.

Read the Heritage Applications Direction 2021 on GOV.UK →

 

Town and Country Planning (Demolition – Description of Buildings) Direction 2021

Published: 21 April 2021
Status: Current – replaces the 2014 Direction

This Direction was introduced alongside changes to permitted development rights for demolition. It ensures that the demolition of certain statues, memorials and monuments in England requires planning permission. It replaced the 2014 Direction.

Read the Demolition Direction 2021 on GOV.UK →

 

Conservation Areas Direction 2015

Published: 24 March 2015
Status: Current

The Conservation Areas Direction 2015 concerns the application of the former section 74 consent regime under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. When it came into force on 15 April 2015 it replaced the Direction then contained in paragraph 31 of Circular 01/2001, which was cancelled on the same date.

Read the Conservation Areas Direction 2015 on GOV.UK →

 

Circular 06/2005 – Biodiversity and Geological Conservation

Published: 16 August 2005
Status: Still listed as current guidance

Circular 06/2005 provides administrative guidance on the application of legislation relating to planning and nature conservation in England. GOV.UK says it complements the NPPF and Planning Practice Guidance. Because both planning policy and environmental legislation have changed significantly since 2005, it should be read alongside the current statutory and policy framework rather than in isolation.

See also our Conservation Planning Index, including ecology, habitats, protected species and biodiversity guidance.

Read Circular 06/2005 on GOV.UK →

 

Circular 06/2003 – Disposal of land for less than best consideration

Published: 4 August 2003
Status: Still listed as current guidance

Circular 06/2003 conveys the Local Government Act 1972 General Disposal Consent (England) 2003 and gives guidance to local authorities using land disposal powers under sections 123 and 127 of the 1972 Act. It is principally relevant where a local authority proposes to dispose of land for less than the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

Read Circular 06/2003 on GOV.UK →

 

Circular 05/2000 – Planning appeals procedures

Published: 28 June 2000
Status: Replaced

This circular is retained in the GOV.UK collection for reference, but it is not the current planning appeals procedure guidance. GOV.UK states that it was replaced by Planning Inspectorate procedural guidance for planning appeals and called-in planning applications.

For present-day appeal routes and procedure, use our planning appeals section and current Planning Inspectorate guidance.

View superseded Circular 05/2000 on GOV.UK →

 

Circular 11/1995 – The use of conditions in planning permissions

Published: 20 July 1995
Status: Cancelled except Appendix A

Most of Circular 11/1995 has been cancelled and replaced by Planning Practice Guidance. GOV.UK expressly says that Appendix A, containing model conditions, is retained. The historic circular is therefore still useful for that limited purpose, but its general policy text should not be treated as the current source of national guidance on conditions.

For current guidance, see our guide to planning conditions where relevant, together with current national policy and PPG.

View Circular 11/1995 on GOV.UK →

 

What about older planning circulars?

 

Older planning circulars frequently appear in historic committee reports, appeal decisions, legal commentary and archived policy documents. Their appearance in an old decision does not mean they remain current today.

Before relying on an older circular, check whether it has been expressly cancelled, superseded by a later circular or Direction, replaced by the NPPF or PPG, or overtaken by subsequent legislation. This is particularly important where a circular dealt with procedure rather than simply explaining legislation.

 

Planning circulars in Scotland and Wales

 

Planning is devolved, so the material above relates to England. Scotland and Wales maintain their own planning guidance and circular collections.

• Scottish Government planning circulars
• Welsh Government planning circulars

This Planning Geek page concentrates on England and does not attempt to reproduce the separate Scottish or Welsh circular systems.

 

Official source and checking status

 

The starting point should always be the official GOV.UK Planning Circulars collection. Where a circular has been replaced or cancelled, the individual GOV.UK page usually records that status.

Planning guidance changes over time. If a circular is important to an application, appeal or enforcement matter, check the current legislation, NPPF, PPG and any replacement Direction before relying upon it.

Other Planning Policy Sections

 

Planning Circulars Page Updated: 30th August 2026