OpenLegislation

Planning and Compensation Act 1991 in England

1991 c. 34 · Enacted 25 July 1991 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 7 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 28 April 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 22(1)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 259(b)
s. 22 headingword insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 259(a)
Sch. 18 Pt. 1words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 262(b)
s. 17(1)omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 258
Sch. 2 headingword insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 260
Sch. 3 para. 16(2)omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 261
s. 17(1)repealedPlanning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Sch. 9

An Act to amend the law relating to town and country planning; to extend the powers to acquire by agreement land which may be affected by carrying out public works; to amend the law relating to compulsory acquisition of land and to compensation where persons are displaced from land or the value of land or its enjoyment may be affected by public works; to provide, in the case of compensation payable in respect of things done in the exercise of statutory powers, for advance payments and payments in interest; and to repeal Part X of the Highways Act 1980.

[25th July 1991]

C1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C2

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: powers transferred (1.7.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch.1

C2

Act: power to amend conferred (26.12.2023) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 132, 255(3)(a) (with s. 247)

Contents

  1. Part I: Town and Country Planning: England and Wales
  2. New enforcement powers
  3. 1Planning contravention notices.
  4. 2Enforcement of conditions.
  5. 3Injunctions restraining breaches of planning control.
  6. Other changes relating to enforcement
  7. 4Time limits on enforcement action.
  8. 5Enforcement notices.
  9. 6Appeal against enforcement notice.
  10. 7Execution of works required by enforcement notice.
  11. 8Offence where enforcement notice not complied with.
  12. 9Stop notices.
  13. 10Certificate of lawful use or development.
  14. 11Rights of entry for enforcement purposes.
  15. Control over development
  16. 12Planning obligations.
  17. 13Demolition of buildings.
  18. 14Fish farming.
  19. 15Assessment of environmental effects.
  20. 16Notice etc. of applications for planning permission.
  21. 17Power of local planning authority to decline to determine applications.
  22. 18Dismissal of appeals in cases of undue delay.
  23. 19Receipt and determination of applications.
  24. Controls over particular matters
  25. 20Land of interested planning authorities and development by them.
  26. 21Mines and waste.
  27. 22Old mining permissions.
  28. 23Trees.
  29. 24Advertisements.
  30. 25Listed buildings, conservation areas and hazardous substances.
  31. Development plans and simplified planning zones
  32. 26Status of development plans.
  33. 27Streamlining of development plan system.
  34. 28Simplified planning zones.
  35. Miscellaneous
  36. 29Functions of Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.
  37. 30Orders as to costs where inquiry or hearing does not take place.
  38. 31Planning compensation repeals.
  39. 32Planning: minor and consequential amendments.
  40. Miscellaneous
  41. Part III: Land Compensation, etc: England and Wales
  42. Acquisition of land
  43. 62Powers to acquire land which will be affected by public works.
  44. 63Advance payments of compensation and interest.
  45. 64Planning assumptions in connection with highway schemes. Repealed
  46. 65Certification of appropriate alternative development. Repealed
  47. 66Compensation where permission for additional development granted after acquisition. Repealed
  48. 67Time limit on validity of notice to treat.
  49. Home loss payments
  50. 68Home loss payments.
  51. 69Home loss payments: spouses having statutory rights of occupation.
  52. General
  53. 70Further amendments relating to land compensation.
  54. Part V: Miscellaneous and General
  55. 80Interest on compensation and payments on account.
  56. 81Abolition of new street byelaws.
  57. 82Home loss payments: Northern Ireland.
  58. 83Consequential amendment of section 91A of Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
  59. 84Short title, commencement, etc.
  60. Schedule 1: Mines and Waste
  61. 1Paragraph 1
  62. 2Paragraph 2
  63. 3Paragraph 3
  64. 4Paragraph 4
  65. 5Paragraph 5
  66. 6Paragraph 6
  67. 7Paragraph 7
  68. 8Paragraph 8
  69. 9Paragraph 9
  70. 10Paragraph 10
  71. 11Paragraph 11
  72. 12Paragraph 12
  73. 13Paragraph 13
  74. 14Paragraph 14
  75. 15Paragraph 15
  76. 16Paragraph 16
  77. Schedule 2: Registration of Old Mining Permissions
  78. Application for registration
  79. 1Paragraph 1
  80. Determination of conditions
  81. 2Paragraph 2
  82. Registration
  83. 3Paragraph 3
  84. General provisions about applications
  85. 4Paragraph 4
  86. Right of appeal
  87. 5Paragraph 5
  88. Determination of appeal
  89. 6Paragraph 6
  90. Reference of applications to Secretary of State
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. Two or more applicants
  93. 8Paragraph 8
  94. Application of provisions of principal Act
  95. 9Paragraph 9
  96. Interpretation
  97. 10Paragraph 10
  98. Schedule 3: Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Hazardous Substances
  99. Part I: Changes relating to enforcement
  100. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9)
  101. 1Paragraph 1
  102. 2Paragraph 2
  103. 3Paragraph 3
  104. 4Paragraph 4
  105. 5Paragraph 5
  106. 6Paragraph 6
  107. 7Paragraph 7
  108. 8Paragraph 8
  109. 9Paragraph 9
  110. Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c. 10.)
  111. 10Paragraph 10
  112. 11Paragraph 11
  113. 12Paragraph 12
  114. 13Paragraph 13
  115. 14Paragraph 14
  116. 15Paragraph 15
  117. 16Paragraph 16
  118. Part II: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  119. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65.)
  120. 17Paragraph 17
  121. Housing Act 1988 (c. 50.)
  122. 18Paragraph 18
  123. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9.)
  124. 19Paragraph 19
  125. 20Paragraph 20
  126. 21Paragraph 21
  127. 22Paragraph 22
  128. 23Paragraph 23
  129. 24Paragraph 24
  130. 25Paragraph 25
  131. 26Paragraph 26
  132. 27Paragraph 27
  133. 28Paragraph 28
  134. 29Paragraph 29
  135. Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c. 10)
  136. 30Paragraph 30
  137. 31Paragraph 31
  138. 32Paragraph 32
  139. Schedule 4: Development Plans
  140. Part I: Streamlining of Development Plan System
  141. 1Paragraph 1
  142. Unitary development plans
  143. 2Paragraph 2
  144. 3Paragraph 3
  145. 4Paragraph 4
  146. 5Paragraph 5
  147. 6Paragraph 6
  148. 7Paragraph 7
  149. 8Paragraph 8
  150. 9Paragraph 9
  151. 10Paragraph 10
  152. 11Paragraph 11
  153. 12Paragraph 12
  154. 13Paragraph 13
  155. 14Paragraph 14
  156. 15Paragraph 15
  157. Structure and local plans
  158. 16Paragraph 16
  159. 17Paragraph 17
  160. 18Paragraph 18
  161. 19Paragraph 19
  162. 20Paragraph 20
  163. 21Paragraph 21
  164. 22Paragraph 22
  165. 23Paragraph 23
  166. 24Paragraph 24
  167. 25Paragraph 25
  168. 26Paragraph 26
  169. 27Paragraph 27
  170. 28Paragraph 28
  171. 29Paragraph 29
  172. Part II: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  173. 30Paragraph 30
  174. 31Paragraph 31
  175. 32Paragraph 32
  176. 33Paragraph 33
  177. 34Paragraph 34
  178. 35Paragraph 35
  179. 36Paragraph 36
  180. 37Paragraph 37
  181. 38Paragraph 38
  182. 39Paragraph 39 Repealed
  183. Part III: Transitional Provisions
  184. Interpretation Repealed
  185. 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
  186. Unitary development plans Repealed
  187. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  188. Structure plans Repealed
  189. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  190. Local plans Repealed
  191. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  192. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  193. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  194. Minerals and waste local plans Repealed
  195. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  196. Duty of structure plan authority to notify authorities responsible for saved local plans et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  197. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  198. Consultation Repealed
  199. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  200. Joint plans Repealed
  201. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  202. Proceedings for questioning validity of development plans Repealed
  203. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  204. The Isles of Scilly Repealed
  205. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  206. Schedule 5: Simplified Planning Zones
  207. Part I: Modification of Procedure for Making or Altering Schemes
  208. Procedure before and after deposit of proposals
  209. 1Paragraph 1
  210. Dealing with objections, etc.
  211. 2Paragraph 2
  212. Part II: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  213. 3Paragraph 3
  214. 4Paragraph 4
  215. 5Paragraph 5
  216. 6Paragraph 6
  217. 7Paragraph 7
  218. 8Paragraph 8
  219. 9Paragraph 9
  220. 10Paragraph 10
  221. Schedule 6: Planning Compensation Repeals: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  222. Land Compensation Act 1961 (c. 33)
  223. 1Paragraph 1
  224. Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
  225. 2Paragraph 2
  226. Public Expenditure and Receipts Act 1968 (c.14)
  227. 3Paragraph 3
  228. Post Office Act 1969 (c.48)
  229. 4Paragraph 4
  230. Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26)
  231. 5Paragraph 5
  232. Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16)
  233. 6Paragraph 6
  234. Airports Act 1986 (c.31)
  235. 7Paragraph 7
  236. The principal Act
  237. 8Paragraph 8
  238. 9Paragraph 9
  239. 10Paragraph 10
  240. 11Paragraph 11
  241. 12Paragraph 12
  242. 13Paragraph 13
  243. 14Paragraph 14
  244. 15Paragraph 15
  245. 16Paragraph 16
  246. 17Paragraph 17
  247. 18Paragraph 18
  248. 19Paragraph 19
  249. 20Paragraph 20
  250. 21Paragraph 21
  251. 22Paragraph 22
  252. 23Paragraph 23
  253. 24Paragraph 24
  254. 25Paragraph 25
  255. 26Paragraph 26
  256. 27Paragraph 27
  257. 28Paragraph 28
  258. 29Paragraph 29
  259. 30Paragraph 30
  260. 31Paragraph 31
  261. 32Paragraph 32
  262. 33Paragraph 33
  263. 34Paragraph 34
  264. 35Paragraph 35
  265. 36Paragraph 36
  266. 37Paragraph 37
  267. 38Paragraph 38
  268. 39Paragraph 39
  269. 40Paragraph 40
  270. 41Paragraph 41
  271. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9)
  272. 42Paragraph 42
  273. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  274. 44Paragraph 44
  275. 45Paragraph 45
  276. 46Paragraph 46
  277. 47Paragraph 47
  278. 48Paragraph 48
  279. Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c.11)
  280. 49Paragraph 49
  281. Schedule 7: Planning in England and Wales: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  282. Agricultural Land (Removal of Surface Soil) Act 1953 (c. 10)
  283. 1Paragraph 1
  284. Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70)
  285. 2Paragraph 2
  286. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (c. 57)
  287. 3Paragraph 3
  288. Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 (c.80)
  289. 4Paragraph 4
  290. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65)
  291. 5Paragraph 5
  292. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (c. 30)
  293. 6Paragraph 6
  294. Housing Act 1988 (c. 50)
  295. 7Paragraph 7
  296. The principal Act
  297. 8Paragraph 8
  298. Part I
  299. 9Paragraph 9
  300. Part III
  301. 10Paragraph 10
  302. 11Paragraph 11
  303. 12Paragraph 12
  304. 13Paragraph 13
  305. 14Paragraph 14
  306. 15Paragraph 15
  307. 16Paragraph 16
  308. 17Paragraph 17
  309. 18Paragraph 18
  310. 19Paragraph 19
  311. 20Paragraph 20
  312. 21Paragraph 21
  313. Part VII
  314. 22Paragraph 22
  315. 23Paragraph 23
  316. 24Paragraph 24
  317. 25Paragraph 25
  318. 26Paragraph 26
  319. 27Paragraph 27
  320. 28Paragraph 28
  321. 29Paragraph 29
  322. 30Paragraph 30
  323. 31Paragraph 31
  324. 32Paragraph 32
  325. 33Paragraph 33
  326. Part VIII
  327. 34Paragraph 34
  328. 35Paragraph 35
  329. 36Paragraph 36
  330. 37Paragraph 37
  331. 38Paragraph 38
  332. Part X
  333. 39Paragraph 39
  334. Part XI
  335. 40Paragraph 40
  336. Part XII
  337. 41Paragraph 41
  338. 42Paragraph 42
  339. 43Paragraph 43
  340. 44Paragraph 44
  341. Part XIII
  342. 45Paragraph 45
  343. 46Paragraph 46
  344. Part XIV
  345. 47Paragraph 47
  346. Part XV
  347. 48Paragraph 48
  348. 49Paragraph 49
  349. 50Paragraph 50
  350. 51Paragraph 51
  351. 52Paragraph 52
  352. Schedules
  353. 53Paragraph 53
  354. 54Paragraph 54
  355. 55Paragraph 55
  356. 56Paragraph 56
  357. 57Paragraph 57
  358. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9)
  359. 58Paragraph 58
  360. 59Paragraph 59
  361. 60Paragraph 60
  362. 61Paragraph 61
  363. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1963 (c.51)
  364. 1Paragraph 1
  365. Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
  366. 2Paragraph 2
  367. Public Expenditure and Receipts Act 1968 (c.14)
  368. 3Paragraph 3
  369. Post Office Act 1969 (c.48)
  370. 4Paragraph 4
  371. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 56)
  372. 5Paragraph 5
  373. The 1972 Act
  374. Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16)
  375. 34Paragraph 34
  376. Airports Act 1986 (c.31)
  377. 35Paragraph 35
  378. Agricultural Land (Removal of Surface Soil) Act 1953 (c.10.)
  379. 1Paragraph 1
  380. Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c.65)
  381. Town and Country Planning Act 1984 (c.10)
  382. Schedule 14: Compensation where Permission for Additional Development Granted after Acquisition Repealed
  383. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  384. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  385. Schedule 15: Amendments Relating to Land Compensation
  386. Part I: Miscellaneous Amendments
  387. Rules for assessment of compensation
  388. 1Paragraph 1
  389. Expenses in acquiring replacement land
  390. 2Paragraph 2
  391. Compensation otherwise than in the form of money
  392. 3Paragraph 3
  393. Tenants at will, etc: part acquisitions
  394. 4Paragraph 4
  395. Caravans etc. affected by noise of public works
  396. 5Paragraph 5
  397. Farm loss payments
  398. 6Paragraph 6
  399. Notice to quit agricultural holding: right to opt for notice of entry compensation
  400. 7Paragraph 7
  401. Service of documents
  402. 8Paragraph 8
  403. Meaning of “owner”
  404. 9Paragraph 9
  405. Local authority and statutory undertakers’ land
  406. 10Paragraph 10
  407. 11Paragraph 11
  408. Commons, open spaces, etc.
  409. 12Paragraph 12
  410. Blighted land
  411. 13Paragraph 13
  412. 14Paragraph 14
  413. Part II: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  414. Land Compensation Act 1961 (c. 33)
  415. 15Paragraph 15
  416. 16Paragraph 16
  417. 17Paragraph 17
  418. 18Paragraph 18
  419. Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (c. 56)
  420. 19Paragraph 19
  421. Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26)
  422. 20Paragraph 20
  423. 21Paragraph 21
  424. 22Paragraph 22
  425. 23Paragraph 23
  426. 24Paragraph 24
  427. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65)
  428. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  429. Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  430. 26Paragraph 26
  431. Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67)
  432. 27Paragraph 27
  433. 28Paragraph 28
  434. The principal Act
  435. 29Paragraph 29
  436. 30Paragraph 30
  437. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9)
  438. 31Paragraph 31
  439. Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c. 10)
  440. 32Paragraph 32
  441. 1Paragraph 1
  442. 2Paragraph 2
  443. Part I: Miscellaneous amendments
  444. Compensation for tenants for a year or from year to year
  445. 1Paragraph 1
  446. Local authority and statutory undertakers’ land
  447. 2Paragraph 2
  448. 3Paragraph 3
  449. Service of documents
  450. 4Paragraph 4
  451. Rules for the assessment of compensation
  452. 5Paragraph 5
  453. Expenses in acquiring replacement land
  454. 6Paragraph 6
  455. 7Paragraph 7
  456. 8Paragraph 8
  457. 9Paragraph 9
  458. 10Paragraph 10
  459. Blighted land
  460. Local authority and statutory undertakers’ land
  461. Caravans etc. affected by noise of public works
  462. 13Paragraph 13
  463. Farm loss payments
  464. 14Paragraph 14
  465. Notice to quit agricultural holding; right to opt for notice of entry compensation
  466. 15Paragraph 15
  467. Part II: Minor and consequential amendments
  468. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1963 (c.51)
  469. 16Paragraph 16
  470. The 1972 Act
  471. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c.56)
  472. 19Paragraph 19
  473. 20Paragraph 20
  474. 21Paragraph 21
  475. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65)
  476. 22Paragraph 22
  477. Schedule 18: Compensation Provisions Referred to in Section 80
  478. IProvisions that do not Provide for Interest
  479. Part II: Provisions that Provide for Interest
  480. Enactments extending to England and Wales
  481. Enactments extending to Scotland
  482. Schedule 19: Repeals
  483. IPlanning: England and Wales
  484. IIPlanning Compensation Repeals
  485. IIILand Compensation: England and Wales
  486. IVScotland
  487. VNew Street Byelaws