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This Order consolidates with amendments the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 and subsequent amending instruments, except the provisions relating to planning applications which are reproduced in the Town and Country Planning (Applications) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1812). The consolidation also incorporates the provision previously made by the special development orders listed in Schedule 7.

The main purpose of the order is to permit certain forms of development without express planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 (Schedule 2). In some circumstances, the permission given is subject to extensive qualifications and restrictions. The order also deals with the other procedures connected with planning applications, with the maintenance of registers of planning applications; applications for established use certificates; and related matters.

The main changes made by the order are—
(a) a replacement of the power for a local highway authority to direct that certain planning applications be referred to them (or to impose conditions on a grant of planning permission) by a requirement for the highway authority to be consulted about such applications (article 18, paragraphs (1)(g) and (h));

(b) a revision of the criteria on which consultation is normally required with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (or the Secretary of State for Wales) about development proposals involving the loss of agricultural land (article 18, paragraph (1)(v));

(c) the inclusion of specified information about simplified planning zones in the planning register (article 27(6));

(d) the exclusion from permitted development rights of some loft extensions (Schedule 2, Part 1);

(e) additions to the categories of change of use which constitute permitted development (Schedule 2, Part 3);

(f) the exclusion from permitted development rights of livestock units within 400 metres of non-agricultural buildings (Schedule 2, Part 4);

(g) the revision of the permitted development rights relating to minerals.