Executive summary -- Summary of recommendations -- The context: introduction; areas of study; an impact based approach; establishing the evidence base -- Cross-cutting issues: the GPDO and regulated regulations; prior approvals; sustainability and climate change; disability access -- Topic areas: retail and town centres; industry and offices; institutions and leisure uses; rural areas; flats; waste management -- The way forward -- Appendices: interviews with development control managers; summary of written representations; feedback from sounding boards

Reviews the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) (apart from householder and telecommunications) and makes recommendations for revising it. Uses an impact based approach to determine low impact developments that might be exempted from planning permission. The views expressed are those of the contributing authors and do not represent the views of the Department for Communities and Local Government.