ABSTRACT
This chapter gives particular attention to the changing workload of the planning and environmental solicitor. It explores the planning profession operates within a framework of ethical standards and it is appropriate that their contribution to the integrity of planning practice. The role of the planning and environmental solicitor has changed beyond all recognition over the course of the last two decades. The ethical principles for planning practitioners are clearly established in the Code of Conduct (2016) for the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI), a parallel set of planning principles has been developed for councillors to reflect their own set of responsibilities to the public interest. The arenas within which a planner may be involved in submitting expert evidence range from court proceedings, to planning appeals and public inquiries and latterly may include appearances before local authority planning committees by way of predeter mination hearings.
