Generally, a detailed planning permission will be granted subject to a condition that it is implemented within five years. Similarly, an outline planning permission will be subject to a condition that an application for approval of reserved matters is made within three years.

Third parties may object to applications and at appeals but currently have no right to appeal against the grant of planning permission. Third parties can apply for judicial review and make statutory challenges in some circumstances.

The central piece of town planning legislation shortly to be amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill.

Trees enjoy special protection under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If a tree is protected by a TPO then it is an offence to top, lop or fell it without planning permission.

The submission of a duplicate planning application, usually when it is anticipated that there will be a non-determination of the application. One application can then be appealed whilst the other is negotiated. This approach is not always used as the local planning authority may consider it aggressive.