Section 15LF Meaning of “local planning authority” etcF1
This section applies for the purposes of this Part.
Each of the following is a local planning authority for their area—
a district council;
a London borough council;
a metropolitan district council;
a county council in relation to any area in England for which there is no district council.
A National Park authority is the local planning authority for the whole of its area, in place of any authority who would otherwise be a local planning authority for any part of that area under subsection (2).
The Broads Authority is the local planning authority for the Broads, in place of any authority who would otherwise be a local planning authority for any part of the Broads under subsection (2).
Where a relevant order provides that a development corporation is to be the local planning authority for an area for some or all purposes of this Part, the development corporation is the local planning authority for that area and those purposes in place of any authority who would otherwise be the local planning authority for that area and those purposes.
In subsection (5)—
“development corporation” means an urban development corporation, a development corporation established under the New Towns Act 1981 or a Mayoral development corporation;
“relevant order”—
- (a)
in relation to an urban development corporation, means an order under section 149(1A) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;
- (b)
in relation to a development corporation established under the New Towns Act 1981, means an order under section 7A(2)(b) of that Act;
- (c)
in relation to a Mayoral development corporation, means an order under section 198(2) of the Localism Act 2011.
- (a)
Subsection (5) is subject to subsections (8) and (9).
Subsection (9) applies where a designation order under section 13 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (power to make designation orders) provides that the Homes and Communities Agency is to be the local planning authority—
for an area specified in the order, and
for all purposes of this Part or any such purposes so specified.
The Homes and Communities Agency is the local planning authority for the area and the purposes concerned in place of any authority who would otherwise be the local planning authority for that area and those purposes.
See also section 15J under which joint committees can be constituted to be local planning authorities for the purposes of this Part.
References (other than in this section) to a local planning authority’s area are to the area for which they are the local planning authority in accordance with this Part.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Ss. 15A-15LH and cross-headings substituted for ss. 15-37 and cross-heading (3.3.2026 for the purpose of making regulations only, excluding ss. 15A-15AI, 15K and 15LE(2)(a)(b)(c)(k)(l)(3); 25.3.2026 in so far as not already in force for the insertion of ss. 15B(1)(2)(a)(c)-(i)(3)-(12), 15BA-15C, 15CA(1)-(6)(a)-(g)(i)(7)(8), 15CB-15EA, 15G-15HA, 15HC-15JB, 15L-15LD, 15LE(1)(2)(d)-(j)(m)-(p)(3)(4), 15LF-15LG and 15LH (in part), otherwise prosp.) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), s. 255(3)(b), Sch. 7 (with s. 247); S.I. 2026/169, regs. 2, 3(b) (with Schs. 1, 2) (as amended by S.I. 2026/333, regs. 1(2), 2)
Notes on Part 2
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 2 modified (temp.) (28.11.2008) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), regs. 1(1), 21(1), 23(2) (with reg. 1(2))
- C2
Pt. 2 modified (25.3.2026) by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/170), regs. 1(2), 7
- C3
Pt. 2 applied (25.3.2026) by The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/186), regs. 1(2), 78(8) (with Sch.)
- C4
Pt. 2 modified (16.4.2026) by S.I. 2026/170, reg. 7A (as inserted by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/350), regs. 1(2), 2)