What is planning? Understanding planning policy

The purpose of planning is to guide and regulate the way land is used and developed.

In urban areas, this is particularly important for community cohesion, wellbeing and mental health.

The planning system can be complex and dominated with jargon. We want to break down these barriers and make our processes easier to understand.

We’ve created an illustrated booklet to help explain how planning works, why it’s needed, how policies are made and who is involved.

Planning policy

Planning policy guides decision-making at local and national levels. It aims to balance different needs to make sure places have what they need, such as housing, infrastructure and space for businesses.

Planning policies are applied when a planning application is submitted to the council. Permission is needed for new developments, making changes to an existing building or changing how a building is used, for example turning a shop into a home.

We want to put people first when producing our policy and encourage early engagement with the community.

The Local Plan 

A Local Plan is the main planning document used by a Local Authority to set out their goals for the borough. The plan also highlights appropriate areas where new development could happen and helps landowners and developers understand the council’s priorities.

Once a plan is approved, it is used to help decide the outcome of planning applications for the next five to ten years.

Based on feedback from local people, we have four main priorities when developing the Local Plan:

Making Richmond Green

By acting on the climate emergency and enhancing our natural environment to help protect biodiversity and protect against flooding.

Making Richmond Fair

Through a more accessible and inclusive Richmond that helps people get a great start in life and supports those who need our help.

Making Richmond Safe

Confronting crime and anti-social behaviour to be the safest London borough.

How we work

Making it easier to communicate with the council and have your say.

Find out more about the Local Plan for Richmond.

Factors that influence policy 

Lots of considerations shape how we produce forward-thinking policies, such as:  

• Local need
• Our community
• Climate emergency
• Health and wellbeing
• Flooding prevention
• Durability and long-term thinking
• Transport & connection
• Land value
• Political decisions
• Protecting and enhancing heritage
• Finding the balance

Not every new development will meet all policy requirements. Sometimes factors like higher quantities of affordable housing or delivery of a new school are prioritised. Each decision is made on an individual basis, depending on the context and level of need in that area.

What you can do

We all have different values and priorities, which is why it is important to hear from many different people when policies that shape all our futures are created. Policies do not solve everything, but they are influential in planning decisions which can have big impacts on places.

New and large-scale development projects can take a couple of years to as long as ten or more to move from concept to completion. Getting involved at an early stage is a good opportunity to have influence in your area in the future.

Get involved

We want to create a Local Plan that reflects you. Not everyone uses shared spaces like parks and high streets in the same way – this is why we need feedback from a diverse group of people.

• Spread the word - tell friends, family and neighbours to get involved too
• Speak to your local councillor
• Follow the council on social media: Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook
• Search upcoming planning applications