Local planning authority

A local planning authority is the local authority or council that is empowered by law to exercise statutory town planning functions for a particular area of the United Kingdom. Although, in Scotland, where all of the local authorities are unitary, the term 'planning authority' is used without the 'local' prefix.

The authority is often the local borough or district council. National park authorities and the Broads Authority are also local planning authorities. County councils (where they exist) are the authority for waste and minerals matters.

The Olympic Delivery Authority has also been designated the local planning authority for the area of east London that will be redeveloped into the Olympic Park for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Local planning authorities also exist in the Republic of Ireland.