The Essential Guide to Planning Law (Second Edition): Decision-making and Practice in the UK - Softcover

Sheppard, Adam; Ritchie, Heather; Macari, Kirsty; Morphet, Charlotte

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1447373979 ISBN 13: 9781447373971

Publisher: Policy Press, 2026

Synopsis

This accessible introduction to planning law covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in equal depth. Linking legal principles to real-world planning practice, it shows how planning law shapes our built environment.

Fully updated to reflect the latest legislative changes, this second edition explores key topics such as governance, environmental assessment and major infrastructure projects. It features:

- recommended reading lists;

- illustrative photographs;

- case study text boxes.

Designed for students of planning, law and property-related fields, this textbook provides the essential knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework you’ll need in practice. Whether you're studying planning law for the first time or looking for a concise reference, this is your go-to guide.

About this title

About the Authors

Adam Sheppard MRTPI FRGS FHEA is a planning academic at UWE Bristol with a background from professional practice. After working as a development management planner in local government Adam moved into academia where he now teaches and researches site scale planning implementation and decision making.

Dr Heather Ritchie is Lecturer in Spatial Planning and Energy Policy in the School of the Built Environment, Ulster University.

Kirsty Macari is Lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Dundee.

Charlotte Morphet is Senior Lecturer at the University of the Built Environment.

Janice Morphet is a Visiting Professor at University College London. She has over fifty years of experience in local and central government as well as academia and has written and researched about Brexit, Covid, outsourcing, devolution and public services.

Edition details

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1447373979
• ISBN 13: 9781447373971
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 310