Statutory authorities
Local planning authorities are required to undertake statutory consultations on proposed development as set out in Article 10 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.
The main types of local planning authority consultation are:
- Public consultation – including consultation with neighbouring residents and community groups.
- Statutory consultees – where there is a requirement set out in law to consult a specific body.
- Any consultation required by a direction – where there are further, specific, statutory consultation requirements as set out in a consultation direction.
- Non statutory consultees where there are planning policy reasons to engage other consultees who – whilst not designated in law – are likely to have an interest in a proposed development.
Statutory consultees may include:
- Canal and River Trust
- Coal Authority
- Control of major-accident hazards competent authority (COMAH)
- County Planning Authorities
- Crown Estates Commissioners
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Designated Neighbourhood Forum
- Environment Agency
- Forestry Commission
- The Gardens Trust
- Greater London Authority
- Mayor of London
- Health and Safety Executive
- Highways Authority (including Highways England)
- Historic England
- Lead local flood authority
- Local Planning Authorities
- National Parks Authorities
- Natural England
- Office for Nuclear Regulation
- Oil and Gas Authority
- Parish Councils
- Rail Infrastructure Managers
- Rail Network Operators
- Sport England
- Theatres Trust
- Toll Road Concessionaries
- Water and sewerage undertakers
Other non-statutory consultees could include:
- The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (now part of the Design Council).
- County archaeological officers.
- Inland Revenue.
- Local authority environmental health officers.
- Minerals planning authorities.
- Navigation authorities.
- Police architectural liaison officers and crime prevention design advisers.
- Waste disposal authorities.
In addition, Building Regulation approval will be required. This can be provided by the local authority or by an approved inspector. See Statutory approvals and Building regulations for more information.
NB: The Penfold Review has made proposals for streamlining non-planning consents, some of which are now being implemented by the government.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Building regulations.
- Conservation areas.
- Consultation process.
- Delegated powers.
- Designated sites.
- Design Build Finance Operate Maintain DBFOM.
- Devolution.
- Listed buildings.
- Natural England.
- Parliamentary procedure.
- Penfold Review.
- Planning permission.
- Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Stakeholders.
- Statutory approvals.
- Statutory obligations.
- Statutory undertakers.
- Third party dependencies.
- Tree preservation orders.
- What approvals are needed before construction begins.
[edit] External references
- Guidance: Consultation and pre-decision matters
- The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.
- Planning Portal, Statutory consultees.
- Planning Portal, Statutory consultee information page.
Featured articles and news
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
A brief run down of changes intentions from April in an onwards.
Reslating an ancient water mill
A rare opportunity to record, study and repair early vernacular roofs.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Why talking about prostate cancer matters in construction.
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.