Planning guidance: letters to chief planning officers
Guidance on various aspects of the planning system, given in letters to chief planning officers of local planning authorities.
Applies to England
Introduction
The department regularly writes to chief planning officers of local planning authorities in England, providing guidance about various aspects of the planning system.
These letters are available to download below, grouped by year of publication.
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
On 24 January 2013 the Chief Planner wrote to local planning authorities setting out their opportunity to request an exemption from the permitted development rights for change of use from B1(a) offices to C3 residential uses. All requests for exemptions were independently assessed against the criteria below and awarded a score out of 40. Published below are the names of the local authorities, the sites submitted for exemption and the scores achieved.
2012
2011
2010
2009
2004
2003
1997
Archived letters
These letters have been archived and replaced by the new planning practice guidance launched 6 March 2014 on an external website.
Updates to this page
Published 15 November 2012Last updated 19 December 2024 + show all updates
-
Added Planning update newsletter, 19 December 2024
-
Added Planning update newsletter (13 December 2024).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (15 November 2024).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (13 September 2024).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (2 August 2024).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (10 May 2024).
-
Added planning update newsletter (15 April 2024)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (29 Feb 2024).
-
Added letter about update to planning practice guidance on housing supply and delivery (5 February 2024).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (30 January 2024)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (21 December 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (30 Nov 2023).
-
Added Letter about planning fees increase (14 November 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (19 October 2023).
-
Added Letter about Biodiversity Net Gain (6 October 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (11 September 2023).
-
Added Letter about RAAC (8 September 2023)
-
Added Letter about nutrient neutrality (1 September 2023). Added Letter about building safety and cladding (1 September 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (26 July 2023).
-
Added Letter about support for prison build applications (13 July 2023) and Letter about financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2023/24 (25 July 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (19 June 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (19 May 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (21 March 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (3 March 2023)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (7 February 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (13 January 2023).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (28 November 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (4 November 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (11 October 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (2 September 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (28 July 2022).
-
Added letter about nutrient neutrality and habitats regulations assessment (21 July 2022).
-
Added Letter about The Home Loss Payments Regulations 2022.
-
Added Planning update newsletter about LPA Digital Showcase Event (12 July 2022).
-
Added Letter about financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2022/23.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (31 May 2022)
-
Added Planning update newsletter about DLUHC broadcast on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill - follow up (May 2022)
-
Added Planning update newsletter about DLUHC broadcast on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (May 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (May 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter about Active Travel England (April 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (March 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter about nutrient pollution (March 2022).
-
Added letter about nutrient pollution (March 2022).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (February 2022)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (December 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (November 2021).
-
Added letter about the delivery of essential goods (October 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (August 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (5 of 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (July 2021)
-
Added Update on financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2021 to 2022.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (May 2021)
-
Added Letter about additional support for neighbourhood planning (April 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (April 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (February 2021).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (December 2020)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (October 2020).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (August 2020). It covers the proposals for wider reform of the planning system that were published today (6 August 2020); Developer contributions research; and extended opening of holiday parks, caravan parks and campsites.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (July 2020)
-
Added Update on financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2020 to 2021.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (March 2020)
-
Added Planning update newsletter (October 2019).
-
Added 'Planning update newsletter (July 2019)'.
-
Added letter about financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2019 to 2020 (June 2019).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (March 2019)
-
Added Letter about Housing Design Awards (January 2019).
-
Added Letter about Habitats Regulations Assessments (January 2019).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (November 2018).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (September 2018)
-
Added 'Update on financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2018 to 2019 (May 2018)'.
-
Added letter about general data protection regulations. Local planning authorities are advised to review the way in which they process personal data in light of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR will be directly applicable in the UK with effect from 25 May 2018.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (April 2018).
-
Updated compulsory purchase rates of interest table.
-
Added letter giving an update on the NPPF timetable.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (December 2017).
-
Added letter from the Chief Planning Officer on security and planning (12 July 2017).
-
Added Planning update newsletter (March 2017)
-
Added letters updating on Neighbourhood Planning written ministerial statement of 12 December 2016.
-
Added letter about shale exploration – support for mineral planning authorities (1 December 2016)
-
Updated compulsory purchase rates of interest table.
-
Added updated rates of interest table, which accompanies the letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (April 2016).
-
Added updated rates of interest table, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added update on financial support for neighbourhood planning in 2016 to 2017.
-
Added letter to mineral planning authorities.
-
Added updated rates of interest table, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter from the Chief Planning Officer.
-
Added Planning update newsletter (October 2015)
-
Added updated rates of interest table, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter about Green Belt protection and intentional unauthorised development.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 June 2015, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added planning update newsletter.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 September 2014, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 June 2014, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added March 2014 planning letter.
-
Added archived letters section.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 March 2014, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter about compulsory pre-application consultation with local communities for onshore wind (6 December 2013)
-
Added letter about the Coastal Concordat for England. Published 11 November 2013.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 31 December 2013, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter about forthcoming changes to planning fees. Published 10 September 2013.
-
Added letter about the technical review of planning appeal procedures. Published 3 September 2013.
-
Added letter about the government's programme of planning reform.
-
Added tables listing requested exemptions to go with letter from 24 January 2013.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 September 2013, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter about changes to the validation of planning applications. Published 19 June 2013.
-
Added updated rates of interest table up to 30 June 2013, accompanying letter dated 12 March 1997.
-
Added letter about permitted development rights for change of use from commercial to residential.
-
Letter added about recent planning activities and changes to the Local Plan Regulation 2012.
-
Letter dated 18 December 2012 has been added.
-
First published.