Development control and the legitimacy of planning decisions

UK planners are increasingly operating in a theoretical vacuum in which they themselves are interpreting planning case law and guidance. Planners have an influential role in development control, since few planning proposals are actually subject to central guidance or guided by a local plan. Politicians have a less significant role, since much of the debate takes place before members are involved, and in most authorities few planning proposals come before members. Article further discusses planning decisions and responds to a paper by Mark Tewdwr-Jones.