Planning Aid

Planning Aid was started by the Town and Country Planning Association in 1973 and has been at the forefront of engaging communities in the planning process.  It provided free, independent and professional town planning advice and support to groups of people and individuals who could not afford to pay fees to a planning consultant.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who provided the financial support to Planning Aid, declared not to renew their grant, and the Planning Aid service finished on 31 March 2011.

However, DCLG's new supporting communities and neighbourhoods in planning fund allocated £1m of funding towards two new Plannind Aid services.

The first is a single national planning advice line where all callers can receive 15 minutes of free, independent and professional advice.  In addition some callers may be eligible for further assistance from a professional volunteer.

A neighbourhood planning service will also be provided to support people and communities in gaining knowledge about the planning system and how they can be involved.  A team of community planning outreach co-ordinators have been recruited to work within target communities to build their own plans for the neighbourhood they live in.

For further information see useful links.