ABSTRACT
Planning has evolved since the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1947, as has the public interest and desire to be involved and to influence the outcome of planning policies and decisions. The growth of pressure groups in the 1960s which startled the Western world with urban riots, both in the US and France, led to a political reaction designed to improve the involvement of individuals in local affairs. The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 places great emphasis on 'front loading' in the preparation of the new style of plans and requires, as an integral part of the submitted documents, a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The local planning authority (lpa) is also required to keep a register of all planning applications, and this must be made accessible to members of the general public. When granting planning permission lpas are now required to provide a resume of the reasons supporting the grant of permission.
