Under legislation that includes the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Council encourages and engages with the wider community to appropriately plan changes to the built environment, increase social well being and attempt to achieve economic stability.

Planning provides the means to resolve the many competing demands for land and development. It protects the environment in our towns, cities and the countryside. It helps to make sure the Council looks after the interests of not just today but also of the anticipated needs of future generations.

Applications for planning permission are made to the Council who are responsible for making the vast majority of planning decisions. In doing so, the Council takes into account the provisions of relevant legislation, advice and policy from Government in the form of Circulars and Planning Policy Guidance and Planning Policy Statements, and the statutory development plan. Currently this comprises the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Replacement Structure Plan, the adopted Essex Waste and Minerals Local Plans and the adopted Maldon District Replacement Local Plan.

The Council has the duty to prepare the local element of the statutory development plan for the area, which gives developers and local people a clear idea of what will be an acceptable development in particular parts of the District.

The Planning and Development Services Department at Maldon also has responsibility for operating the Building Control Functions of the Council.  For most new buildings, extensions and alterations to existing buildings, as well change of use of some buildings you will need Building Regulation approval although some buildings are exempt. 

Specific planning functions of the Council include:

• Producing the Local Development Framework and associated documents which include the land allocations, the Core Strategy, the Statement of Community Involvement, the Local Development Scheme and Supplementary Planning Documents in liaison with the Government Office for the East of England
• Determining individual planning applications and Building Regulation applications.
• Providing advice to householders and developers who would like to undertake proposals in the District.
• Providing evidence to the Secretary of State on Planning Appeals on behalf of the Council.
• Updating and improving our consultation and liaison with the public on planning matters.

Dealing with Tree Preservation Orders. Applications to do works to trees and dealing with applications under the high hedge legislation.

For further information about the services which we provide please use the links on the left hand side of this page.