What is the planning system?

Whether we like it or not, as our population grows so does the need for development. The planning system has to plan for this development, but at the same time try to protect the natural and man-made environment. The planning system is used to ensure that the things we need like schools, roads, houses, places to work etc. get built in the right places and that the wrong things don't get built at all.

North Wiltshire District Council is responsible for most things that the planning system does in this area. Among the most important are; the production of development plans; the processing of planning applications and the enforcement of planning legislation.

Although the Council's officers are responsible for the running of the system it is the District Councillors who take many of the final decisions. The Councillors are members of the community elected by local people to represent the community.
more information:

development plans

planning applications

listed buildings

enforcement  

or see the Planning Portal - for a comprehensive guide to the Planning System.


Don't forget that you may need to apply for Building Regulation consent as well as Planning Permission for new buildings, extensions, conversions and dangerous/dilapidated or ruinous structures. Have a look at our Building Control pages for more information.