ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the planning application process and the practical implications for community involvement at the various stages of the process, from pre-application to determination at committee. In England, district councils are responsible for the majority of planning matters except transport, minerals and waste planning, which are usually the responsibility of county councils. In some areas of the country, there are single-tier authorities which combine both district- and county-level planning responsibilities. In London, there are strategic planning powers, where planning applications of a certain scale or significance may be determined by the London mayor. From a community as well as a political involvement perspective, the easiest way to look at the planning application process is in terms of three stages: Pre-application; Submission and predetermination; Determination. The usual advice given by local authorities tends to focus on the transactional nature of the planning application process.
