ABSTRACT
European Union membership was found to be influencing statutory functions, leading to new activities through transnational cooperation on European Commission-funded projects or exchange programmes and, in some cases, to new organisational structures. This chapter explains the nature of these impacts and highlights in summary form the various categories that can be utilised to break down the influences. The Kent Structure Plan Third Review, adopted in 1996, provides a good example of the contextual influence of EU membership on land use planning at the local level by discussing the various governmental levels that can affect planning locally. The most widespread influence of EU membership on development control procedures has been the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, which has obliged all UK planning authorities to require, receive and evaluate environmental statements with respect to various categories of developments. Membership of the European Union is also having an impact on administrative structures affecting local authority planning and professional planning personnel.
