Part 6: Planning in England Permission in principle and local registers of land Permission in principle on application to the local authority
Section 59A(1)(b) allows applicants to apply directly to their local authority for permission in principle for housing-led development and gives the Secretary of State the power to set out, in a development order, the process that local authorities must follow in handling an application. The Government’s intention is to limit this option to applications for minor development (i.e. development that is not major development or householder development as defined by Article 2 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2015).
	Section 59A(8)(a) provides that permission in principle granted by a local planning authority is valid for 3 years, unless the authority choose to grant this for a shorter or longer period.