The Housing and Planning Act 1986 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to empower local authorities to make simplified planning zone schemes. Such a scheme provides planning permission within the area covered by the scheme for development in accordance with the scheme without the need for specific application.

The power to create simplified planning zones lies with London borough councils, district councils and urban development corporations.

This Order imposes restrictions on the development which may be authorised by a simplified planning zone scheme anywhere in England or in Wales. Such a scheme may not give permission for a development which is a “county matter” i.e. the planning responsibility of a county council in England outside London or a metropolitan county or in Wales (or which would be a “county matter” in Wales if the Town and Country Planning (Prescription of County Matters) Regulations 1980 extended to Wales).

The types of development excluded from a simplified planning zone scheme by the order are mineral working and connected activities and the use of land for depositing refuse or waste materials.