ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the limits to the powers which a planning agency may deploy in pursuing its policies. It also describes the obligations on a planning agency in its functioning as a government body, also how planning agencies take account of them. The law maker has given statutory powers to planning agencies to allow them to plan passively; it has given them few powers explicitly for pro-active planning. The law maker has given statutory powers to planning agencies to allow them to plan passively; it has given them few powers explicitly for pro-active planning. They arise out of public law statutes other than the Spatial planning act, out of private law, and out of European union (EU) principles. A public agency carrying out land-use planning is expected to follow those 'principles of responsible government'. The Dutch Spatial planning act is supposed to give the citizen legal certainty.
