Where can I find official UK planning rules?

National planning policy and permitted development legislation are published on gov.uk, and your local authority publishes its Local Plan and any local directions on its own planning pages. These official sources are the final word for your project.

What is an Article 4 Direction?

An Article 4 Direction is a local rule that removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area, so work that would be permitted elsewhere needs a planning application there. Always check whether one applies to your property.

Does national or local planning policy take priority?

Planning decisions are made in accordance with the development plan, which is largely local, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In practice both national and local policy matter, and they have to be read together.

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Planning Policy and Council Updates: How to Stay Current

Where planning rules come from, how they change, and how to check the current position for your site.

Reviewed 10 June 2026 · 6 min read

Planning Policy and Council Updates: How to Stay Current — illustrative image — Illustrative imagery. Not a specific AH Architecture project.

Planning is not static. National policy, local plans and permitted development rights all change, and a rule that applied last year may not apply today. This guide explains how the system fits together and where to find the current position.

We keep this page under review, but the official sources below are always the final word for your specific site.

National policy: the framework

In England, the National Planning Policy Framework sets the government’s planning policies and how they should be applied. Permitted development rights are set out in national legislation and are updated periodically.

Local policy: the Local Plan

Each local planning authority has a Local Plan that sets out local policies and site allocations. Decisions are made in line with the Local Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, so local policy matters as much as national policy.

Where the official updates come from

For anything that affects a real decision, rely on official sources rather than summaries.

→ gov.uk for national planning policy and permitted development legislation
→ Your local authority’s planning pages for the Local Plan and any Article 4 Directions
→ The Planning Inspectorate for appeals and decisions
→ Planning data published openly at planning.data.gov.uk

How to check the rules for your project

Start with your local authority’s planning portal, check whether your area carries any Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights, and confirm whether your property sits in a conservation area or is listed. When in doubt, a short feasibility check resolves it.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find official UK planning rules?: National planning policy and permitted development legislation are published on gov.uk, and your local authority publishes its Local Plan and any local directions on its own planning pages. These official sources are the final word for your project.
What is an Article 4 Direction?: An Article 4 Direction is a local rule that removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area, so work that would be permitted elsewhere needs a planning application there. Always check whether one applies to your property.
Does national or local planning policy take priority?: Planning decisions are made in accordance with the development plan, which is largely local, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In practice both national and local policy matter, and they have to be read together.