Local Planning Authorities
What is a local planning authority?
A local planning authority (LPA) is the public body responsible for planning decisions in a given area. This includes deciding planning applications, enforcing planning rules, and — importantly — making and administering Tree Preservation Orders.
In England alone there are around 337 local planning authorities, with further authorities in Wales and Scotland. Most are local councils, but not all.
Most LPAs are councils
The majority of local planning authorities are local councils:
- District councils (in two-tier areas)
- Borough councils
- Metropolitan borough councils
- Unitary authorities
- London boroughs and the City of London
In two-tier areas, it is the district or borough council (not the county council) that acts as the planning authority and makes TPOs.
Some LPAs are not councils
National Park Authorities
There are ten National Park Authorities in England, each of which is the local planning authority for its park area. When a national park overlaps with a council's area, the National Park Authority takes over planning functions within the park boundary — including TPOs.
- Dartmoor National Park Authority
- Exmoor National Park Authority
- Lake District National Park Authority
- New Forest National Park Authority
- North York Moors National Park Authority
- Northumberland National Park Authority
- Peak District National Park Authority
- South Downs National Park Authority
- The Broads Authority
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
For example, the South Downs National Park spans parts of 15 different council areas. All TPOs within the park boundary are the responsibility of the South Downs National Park Authority, not those 15 councils.
Mayoral Development Corporations
A small number of Development Corporations also act as planning authorities within designated areas:
- Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (west London)
- London Legacy Development Corporation (Olympic Park area)
Why does this matter for TPOs?
If you want to find out about TPOs near your property, check whether work needs consent, or apply for permission, you need to contact the right planning authority. Contacting your council when you are actually in a national park area will not get you the right answer.
This is also why TPO data is so fragmented. Each of these 337 planning authorities maintains its own TPO register, in its own format, on its own systems. TPO Search aggregates data from over 160 of them to help you search in one place.
How to find your local planning authority
- Search on TPO Search — enter your postcode and we will show you which planning authority covers your area.
- Use GOV.UK — the Find your local council tool will identify your council. If you are in a national park, check separately whether the park authority is your LPA.