Explanatory note

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 empowers local planning authorities to make simplified planning zone schemes. Such a scheme provides planning permission within the area covered by the scheme for development in accordance with the scheme without the need for specific application.

These Regulations, which apply throughout England and Wales, are concerned with the procedure for making and altering such schemes. They are made under, and supplement the provision made by, Schedule 7 to the 1990 Act (which has been amended by Schedule 5 to the Planning and Compensation Act 1991).

They make provision in respect of consultation and notification before depositing proposals (regulation 3), procedure after deposit of proposals (regulation 4), for making objections and representations (regulation 5), for consideration of objections by local planning authorities (regulations 7, 8, 9 and 10) and for modification of proposals (regulations 12 and 13).

They also specify the content or form of certain notices to be given by the authority (regulations 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15) and by the Secretary of State (regulation 16).

They also make provision for the Secretary of State to call-in proposals (regulation 16), to give certain directions (regulation 17) and to make or alter a scheme (regulation 19).

The Regulations supersede the Town and Country Planning (Simplified Planning Zones) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1750), which are revoked, subject to a limited savings provision which provides for the transition to the new procedures (regulation 23).