Law

Town and Country Planning Act 1971

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 1971-10-28, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 321 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Local planning authorities
  3. 2 Planning committees and joint advisory committees
  4. 3 Delegation of functions to councils of county districts
  5. 4 Delegation of functions to officers of local authorities
  6. 5 Local planning authorities in Greater London
  7. 6 Survey of planning areas
  8. 7 Preparation of structure plans
  9. 8 Publicity in connection with preparation of structure plans
  10. 9 Approval or rejection of structure plan by Secretary of State
  11. 10 Alteration of structure plans
  12. 11 Preparation of local plans
  13. 12 Publicity in connection with preparation of local plans
  14. 13 Inquiries, etc. with respect to local plans
  15. 14 Adoption and approval of local plans
  16. 15 Alteration of local plans
  17. 16 Disregarding of representations with respect to development authorised by or under other enactments
  18. 17 Default powers of Secretary of State
  19. 18 Supplementary provisions as to structure and local plans
  20. 19 Application of Part II to Greater London
  21. 20 Meaning of "development plan"
  22. 21 Commencement of Part II and interim provisions
  23. 22 Meaning of "development" and "new development"
  24. 23 Development requiring planning permission
  25. 24 Development orders
  26. 25 Form and content of applications
  27. 26 Publication of notices of applications
  28. 27 Notification of applications to owners and agricultural tenants
  29. 28 Publicity for applications affecting conservation areas
  30. 29 Determination of applications
  31. 30 Conditional grant of planning permission
  32. 31 Directions etc. as to method of dealing with applications
  33. 32 Permission to retain buildings or works or continue use of land
  34. 33 Provisions as to effect of planning permission
  35. 34 Registers of applications and decisions
  36. 35 Reference of applications to Secretary of State
  37. 36 Appeals against planning decisions
  38. 37 Appeal in default of planning decision
  39. 38 Review of planning decisions where compensation claimed
  40. 39 Provisions supplementary to s.38
  41. 40 Development by local authorities and statutory undertakers with authorisation of government department
  42. 41 Limit of duration of planning permission
  43. 42 Outline planning permission
  44. 43 Provisions supplementary to ss.41 and 42
  45. 44 Termination of planning permission by reference to time limit
  46. 45 Power to revoke or modify planning permission
  47. 46 Unopposed revocation or modification
  48. 47 Constitution of Planning Inquiry Commission
  49. 48 References to a Planning Inquiry Commission
  50. 49 Procedure on reference to a Planning Inquiry Commission
  51. 50 Appeal to independent tribunal
  52. 51 Orders requiring discontinuance of use or alteration or removal of buildings or works
  53. 52 Agreements regulating development or use of land
  54. 53 Applications to determine whether planning permission required
  55. 54 Lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest
  56. 55 Control of works for demolition, alteration or extension of listed buildings
  57. 56 Provisions supplementary to s.55
  58. 57 Acts causing or likely to result in damage to listed buildings
  59. 58 Building preservation notice in respect of building not listed
  60. 59 Planning permission to include appropriate provision for preservation and planting of trees
  61. 60 Tree preservation orders
  62. 61 Provisional tree preservation orders
  63. 62 Replacement of trees
  64. 63 Control of advertisements
  65. 64 Application for planning permission not needed for advertisements complying with regulations
  66. 65 Proper maintenance of waste land
  67. 66 Meaning of "industrial building"
  68. 67 Industrial development certificates
  69. 68 Exemption of certain classes of development
  70. 69 Power to vary exemption limit as to industrial floor space
  71. 70 Restrictions or conditions attached to certificates
  72. 71 Provisions as to conditions imposed under s.70
  73. 72 Provision for cases where certificate withheld
  74. 73 Meaning of "office premises"
  75. 74 Office development permits
  76. 75 Exemption by reference to office floor space
  77. 76 Mixed industrial and office development
  78. 77 Restrictions or conditions attached to office development permits
  79. 78 Planning permission for erection of building where no office development permit required
  80. 79 Planning permission for alteration or extension of building where no office development permit required
  81. 80 Planning permission for erection of two or more buildings where no office development permit required
  82. 81 Provisions supplementary to ss.78 to 80
  83. 82 Provisions as to conditions imposed or implied in pursuance of these provisions
  84. 83 Development in metropolitan region: planning permission granted before passing of Act of 1965
  85. 84 Annual report
  86. 85 Interpretation of these provisions
  87. 86 Temporary operation of these provisions
  88. 87 Power to serve enforcement notice
  89. 88 Appeal against enforcement notice
  90. 89 Penalties for non-compliance with enforcement notice
  91. 90 Power to stop further development pending proceedings on enforcement notice
  92. 91 Execution and cost of works required by enforcement notice
  93. 92 Effect of planning permission on enforcement notice
  94. 93 Enforcement notice to have effect against subsequent development
  95. 94 Certification of established use
  96. 95 Grant of certificate by Secretary of State on referred application or appeal against refusal
  97. 96 Power to serve listed building enforcement notice
  98. 97 Appeal against listed building enforcement notice
  99. 98 Penalties for non-compliance with listed building enforcement notice
  100. 99 Execution and cost of works required by listed building enforcement notice
  101. 100 Enforcement by, or by direction of, the Secretary of State
  102. 101 Works for preservation of unoccupied listed building in cases of urgency
  103. 102 Penalties for non-compliance with tree preservation order
  104. 103 Enforcement of duties as to replacement of trees
  105. 104 Penalty for non-compliance with notice as to waste land
  106. 105 Appeal to magistrates' court against notice as to waste land
  107. 106 Further appeal to the Crown Court
  108. 107 Execution and cost of works required by notice as to waste land
  109. 108 Enforcement of orders under s.51
  110. 109 Enforcement of control as to advertisements
  111. 110 Supplementary provisions as to appeals to Secretary of State under Part V
  112. 111 Recovery of expenses of local planning authorities under Part V
  113. 112 Compulsory acquisition of land in connection with development and for other planning purposes
  114. 113 Compulsory acquisition of land by Secretary of State for the Environment
  115. 114 Compulsory acquisition of listed building in need of repair
  116. 115 Repairs notice as preliminary to compulsory acquisition under s.114
  117. 116 Compensation on compulsory acquisition of listed building
  118. 117 Minimum compensation in case of listed building deliberately left derelict
  119. 118 Extinguishment of rights over land compulsorily acquired
  120. 119 Acquisition of land by agreement
  121. 120 Acquisition of land for purposes of exchange
  122. 121 Appropriation of land forming part of common etc.
  123. 122 Appropriation of land held for planning purposes
  124. 123 Disposal of land held for planning purposes
  125. 124 Development of land held for planning purposes
  126. 125 Special provisions as to features and buildings of architectural and historic interest
  127. 126 Management etc. of listed buildings acquired by local authority or Secretary of State
  128. 127 Power to override easements and other rights
  129. 128 Use and development of consecrated land and burial grounds
  130. 129 Use and development of land for open spaces
  131. 130 Displacement of persons from land acquired or appropriated
  132. 131 Constitution of joint body to hold land acquired for planning purposes
  133. 132 Modification of incorporated enactments for purposes of Part VI
  134. 133 Interpretation of Part VI
  135. 134 Scope of Part VII
  136. 135 Derivation of unexpended balance from claims under Part VI of Act of 1947
  137. 136 Original unexpended balance of established development value
  138. 137 Claim holdings, their areas and values
  139. 138 Adjustment of claim holdings
  140. 139 General provision for continuance of original unexpended balance
  141. 140 Reduction or extinguishment of balance in consequence of compensation
  142. 141 Reduction or extinguishment of balance on initiation of new development
  143. 142 Reduction or extinguishment of balance on acquisition of land under compulsory powers
  144. 143 Reduction or extinguishment of balance in consequence of severance or injurious affection
  145. 144 Supplementary provisions as to deductions from original balance
  146. 145 Provision of information relating to unexpended balance
  147. 146 General provision as to right to compensation
  148. 147 Planning decisions not ranking for compensation
  149. 148 No compensation if certain other development permitted
  150. 149 Further exclusions from compensation
  151. 150 Grant of planning permission treated as subject to notional condition
  152. 151 Notice under s.72 treated as planning decision
  153. 152 General provisions as to amount of compensation
  154. 153 Assessment of depreciation
  155. 154 General provisions as to claims for compensation
  156. 155 Effect on claims of direction under s.38
  157. 156 Determination of claims
  158. 157 Payment of compensation
  159. 158 Apportionment and registration of compensation
  160. 159 Recovery of compensation on subsequent development
  161. 160 Amount recoverable, and provisions for payment or remission thereof
  162. 161 Amount recovered not to be deducted from unexpended balance
  163. 162 Mortgages, rentcharges and settlements
  164. 163 Calculation of value
  165. 164 Compensation where planning permission revoked or modified
  166. 165 Application of s.164 to special cases of refusal or conditional grant of planning permission
  167. 166 Registration and apportionment of compensation for depreciation
  168. 167 Contribution by Secretary of State towards compensation in certain cases
  169. 168 Recovery, on subsequent development, of compensation under s.164
  170. 169 Compensation for planning decisions restricting development other than new development
  171. 170 Compensation in respect of orders under s.51
  172. 171 Compensation for refusal of consent to alteration, etc. of listed building
  173. 172 Compensation where listed building consent revoked or modified
  174. 173 Compensation for loss or damage caused by service of building preservation notice
  175. 174 Compensation in respect of tree preservation orders
  176. 175 Compensation in respect of requirement as to replanting of trees
  177. 176 Compensation for restrictions on advertising
  178. 177 Compensation for loss due to stop notice
  179. 178 General provisions as to compensation for depreciation under Part VIII
  180. 179 Determination of claims for compensation
  181. 180 Purchase notice on refusal or conditional grant of planning permission
  182. 181 Action by council on whom purchase notice is served
  183. 182 Procedure on reference of purchase notice to Secretary of State
  184. 183 Action by Secretary of State in relation to purchase notice
  185. 184 Power to refuse to confirm purchase notice where land has restricted use by virtue of previous planning permission
  186. 185 Power to refuse to confirm purchase notice in respect of office premises
  187. 186 Effect of Secretary of State's action in relation to purchase notice
  188. 187 Special provisions as to compensation where purchase notice served
  189. 188 Purchase notice in respect of order revoking or modifying planning permission
  190. 189 Purchase notice in respect of order requiring discontinuance of use or alteration or removal of buildings or works
  191. 190 Purchase notice on refusal or conditional grant of listed building consent
  192. 191 Purchase notices in other cases
  193. 192 Scope of these provisions
  194. 193 Power to serve blight notice
  195. 194 Objection to blight notice
  196. 195 Reference of objection to Lands Tribunal
  197. 196 Effect of valid blight notice
  198. 197 Compensation for compulsory purchase of historic buildings and of land in clearance areas
  199. 198 Withdrawal of blight notice
  200. 199 Effect on powers of compulsory acquisition of counter-notice disclaiming intention to acquire
  201. 200 Death of claimant after service of blight notice
  202. 201 Power of mortgagee to serve blight notice
  203. 202 Saving for claimant's right to sell whole hereditament, etc.
  204. 203 Meaning of "owner-occupier" and "resident owner-occupier"
  205. 204 Special provisions as to partnerships
  206. 205 "Appropriate authority" for purposes of these provisions
  207. 206 "Appropriate enactment"for purposes of these provisions
  208. 207 General interpretation of these provisions
  209. 208 No withdrawal of constructive notice to treat
  210. 209 Highways affected by development: orders by Secretary of State
  211. 210 Footpaths and bridleways affected by development: orders by local planning authorities, etc.
  212. 211 Highways crossing or entering route of proposed new highway, etc.
  213. 212 Order extinguishing right to use vehicles on highway
  214. 213 Provision of amenity for highway reserved to pedestrians
  215. 214 Extinguishment of public rights of way over land held for planning purposes
  216. 215 Procedure for making of orders by Secretary of State
  217. 216 Procedure in anticipation of planning permission, etc.
  218. 217 Confirmation of orders made by other authorities
  219. 218 Compulsory acquisition of land in connection with highways
  220. 219 Concurrent proceedings in connection with highways
  221. 220 Provisions as to telegraphic lines
  222. 221 Application of s.32 of Mineral Workings Act 1951 to orders under Part X
  223. 222 Meaning of "operational land"
  224. 223 Cases in which land is to be treated as not being operational land
  225. 224 Meaning of "the appropriate Minister"
  226. 225 Applications for planning permission by statutory undertakers
  227. 226 Development requiring authorisation of government department
  228. 227 Revocation or modification of permission to develop operational land
  229. 228 Order requiring discontinuance of use etc. of operational land
  230. 229 Acquisition of land of statutory undertakers
  231. 230 Extinguishment of rights of way, and rights as to apparatus, of statutory undertakers
  232. 231 Orders under s.230
  233. 232 Notice for same purposes as s.230 but given by statutory undertakers to developing authority
  234. 233 Extension or modification of functions of statutory undertakers
  235. 234 Procedure in relation to orders under s.233
  236. 235 Relief of statutory undertakers from obligations rendered impracticable
  237. 236 Objections to orders under ss.233 and 235
  238. 237 Right to compensation in respect of certain decisions and orders
  239. 238 Measure of compensation to statutory undertakers
  240. 239 Exclusion of s.238 at option of statutory undertakers
  241. 240 Procedure for assessing compensation where s.238 applies
  242. 241 Special provisions as to display of advertisements on operational land
  243. 242 Validity of development plans and certain orders, decisions and directions
  244. 243 Validity of enforcement notices and similar notices
  245. 244 Proceedings for questioning validity of development plans and certain orders under Parts X and XI
  246. 245 Proceedings for questioning validity of other orders, decisions and directions
  247. 246 Appeals to High Court relating to enforcement notices and similar notices
  248. 247 Appeals to High Court against decisions under s.53
  249. 248 Special provisions as to decisions relating to statutory undertakers
  250. 249 Special provisions as to orders subject to special parliamentary procedure
  251. 250 Grants for development etc.
  252. 251 Maximum amount of grants under s.250
  253. 252 Supplementary provisions as to grants under s.250
  254. 253 Grants for research and education
  255. 254 Contributions by Ministers towards compensation paid by local authorities
  256. 255 Contributions by local authorities and statutory undertakers
  257. 256 Assistance for acquisition of property where objection made to blight notice in certain cases
  258. 257 Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid by way of compensation
  259. 258 Recovery from acquiring authorities of sums paid in respect of war-damaged land
  260. 259 Sums recoverable from acquiring authorities reckonable for purposes of grant
  261. 260 Expenses of government departments
  262. 261 Payments under s.59 of Act of 1947 and Parts I and V of Act of 1954
  263. 262 General provision as to receipts of Secretary of State
  264. 263 Expenses of county councils and Greater London Council
  265. 264 Power to modify Act in relation to minerals
  266. 265 Modification of Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966
  267. 266 Exercise of powers in relation to Crown land
  268. 267 Agreements relating to Crown land
  269. 268 Supplementary provisions as to Crown and Duchy interests
  270. 269 Application of Act to Isles of Scilly
  271. 270 Application to local planning authorities of provisions as to planning control and enforcement
  272. 271 Application to local planning authorities of provisions as to listed buildings
  273. 272 Special provisions as to statutory undertakers who are local planning authorities
  274. 273 National Coal Board
  275. 274 Ecclesiastical property
  276. 275 Settled land, and land of universities and colleges
  277. 276 Default powers of Secretary of State
  278. 277 Designation of conservation areas
  279. 278 Assumptions as to planning permission in determining value of interests in land
  280. 279 Recovery, on subsequent development, of payments in respect of war-damaged land
  281. 280 Rights of entry
  282. 281 Supplementary provisions as to rights of entry
  283. 282 Local inquiries
  284. 283 Service of notices
  285. 284 Power to require information as to interests in land
  286. 285 Offences by corporations
  287. 286 Combined applications
  288. 287 Regulations and orders
  289. 288 Licensing planning areas
  290. 289 Act not excluded by special enactments
  291. 290 Interpretation
  292. 291 Consequential amendments
  293. 292 Transitional provisions, savings and repeals
  294. 293 Saving for Interpretation Act 1889 s.38
  295. 294 Commencement
  296. 295 Short title and extent
  297. SCHEDULE 1 Joint Planning Boards
  298. SCHEDULE 2 Planning Committees and Joint Advisory Committees
  299. SCHEDULE 3 Local Planning Authorities in Greater London
  300. SCHEDULE 4 Development Plans: Greater London
  301. SCHEDULE 5 Development Plans: Provisions in Force until Superseded by Part II of this Act
  302. SCHEDULE 6 Development Plans: Modifications of this Act Pending Repeal of Schedule 5
  303. SCHEDULE 7 Development Plans: Transition from Schedule 5 to Part II of this Act
  304. SCHEDULE 8 Development not Constituting New Development
  305. SCHEDULE 9 Determination of Certain Appeals by Person Appointed by Secretary of State
  306. SCHEDULE 10 Construction of References in Sections 48 and 49 to "the responsible minister or ministers"
  307. SCHEDULE 11 Control of Works for Demolition, Alteration or Extension of Listed Buildings
  308. SCHEDULE 12 Office Development in Metropolitan Region: Planning Permission Granted before Passing of Act of 1965
  309. SCHEDULE 13 Office Development: Metropolitan Region Outside Greater London
  310. SCHEDULE 14 Provisions as to Established use Certificates
  311. SCHEDULE 15 Adjustment of Claim Holdings
  312. SCHEDULE 16 Calculation of Value of Previous Development of Land
  313. SCHEDULE 17 Apportionment of Unexpended Balance of Established Development Value
  314. SCHEDULE 18 Condition Treated as Applicable to Rebuilding and Alterations
  315. SCHEDULE 19 Proceedings on Listed Building Purchase Notice
  316. SCHEDULE 20 Procedure in connection with Orders relating to Footpaths and Bridleways
  317. SCHEDULE 21 Provisions of this Act referred to in Sections 263, 264, 269, 270, 271, 273 and 274 and Paragraphs 83 and 84 of Schedule 24
  318. SCHEDULE 22 Enactments Exempted from Section 287(6) of this Act
  319. SCHEDULE 23 Consequential Amendments
  320. SCHEDULE 24 Transitional Provisions and Savings
  321. SCHEDULE 25 Repeals

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321 provisions

SCHEDULE 25 Repeals

Section 292. Chapter | Short Title | Extent of repeal 5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 20. | The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957. | In Schedule 1, in Part II, the words "A Planning Inquiry Commission constituted under Part VI of the Town and Country Planning Act 1968. " 10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 38. | The Town and Country Planning Act 1962. | The whole Act except sections 222,224 and 226 and Schedule 12. 1963 c. 17. | The Town and Country Planning Act 1963. | Section 1. Section 3. Section 4(1) to (3). The Schedule. 1963 c. 29. | The Local Authorities (Land) Act 1963. | Section 12(2). 1963 c. 33. | The London Government Act 1963. | Sections 24 to 29. 1963 c. 38. | The Water Resources Act 1963. | In section 71(5) the words " and in the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 ". 1964 c. 51. | The Universities and College Estates Act 1964. | In Schedule 3, in Part II, the entry relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962. 1965 c. 33. | The Control of Office and Industrial Development Act 1965. | Sections 1 to 16. Sections 18 to 20. Section 22(1). Sections 23 and 24. Section 25(1) to (4). In section 26(2), the words from the beginning to " 1962 to 1965; and". Schedules 1 to 3. 1965 c. 56. | The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965. | In Schedule 6, the entry relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962. In Schedule 7, the entry relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962. 1966 c. 4. | The Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966. | In Schedule 2, paragraph 3. 1966 c. 34. | The Industrial Development Act 1966. | Part III. In section 31(3) the words from " together with the Town and Country Planning Acts 1962 to 1965 " to " 1962 to 1966 and In Schedule 3, in Part III, the entry relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962. 1966 c. 42. | The Local Government Act 1966. | Section 7. 1967 c. 69. | The Civic Amenities Act 1967. | Section 1. Section 3. Section 6. Section 8. Section 11. Part II except section 15(2). In section 28(1), paragraph (a) and, in paragraph (c), the words " section 6, section 14 In section 30(1) the definition of " the Planning Act of 1968 ". 1968 c. 13. | The National Loans Act 1968. | Section 11. 1968 c. 23. | The Rent Act 1968. | In Schedule 15, the entry relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962. 1968 c. 41. | The Countryside Act 1968. | Sections 25 and 26. 1968 c. 72. | The Town and Country Planning Act 1968. | Sections 1 to 26. Section 27 except paragraph (b). Sections 28 and 29. Sections 32 to 38. Sections 40 to 57. Sections 60 to 87. Sections 90 to 98. Sections 100 to 102. Section 103(a). In section 104(1), the definition of " the Greater London development plan and subsections (2) and (4). Section 108. Section 109(2). Schedules 1 and 2. Schedules 4 to 8. Schedule 9 except paragraphs 9, 10, 68 and 75. Schedule 10 except paragraphs 13 and 14. Schedule 11. 1969 c. 33. | The Housing Act 1969. | Section 34. 1969 c. 48. | The Post Office Act 1969. | In Schedule 4, paragraphs 71 and 89(3). 1970 c. 43. | The Trees Act 1970. | Section 1. 1970 c. 57. | The Town and Country Planning Regulations (London) (Indemnity) Act 1970. | Section 2. 1971 c. 18. | The Land commission (Dissolution) Act 1971. | In Schedule 2, Paragraph 1. 1971 c. 23. | The Courts Act 1971. | In Schedule 9, the entries relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1968. 1971 c. 41. | The Highways Act 1971. | Section 50. Section 77. Section 78(2). Schedule 7. 1971 c. 62. | The Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971. | In Schedule 3, the entries relating to the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1968. 1971 c. 75. | The Civil Aviation Act 1971. | In Schedule 5, paragraph 8(3).

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