Planning Permission is the process of controlling and managing the development of land and buildings. The purpose of this process is to save the best of our heritage and improve infrastructure which we depend on for a civilised existence.
Your local planning authority [usually the local council] is responsible for deciding whether a development, anything from an extension to a house to a new shopping centre, should go ahead. Essentially, the Planning legislation considers the effects that buildings and land use may have on local people and the environment. Planning ensures that the right development happens in the right place at the right time, benefitting communities and the economy. It plays a critical role in identifying what development is needed and where, what areas need to be protected or enhanced and in assessing whether proposed development is suitable.