The 2004 Act is the first major reform of planning law for over 10 years. It makes substantial changes to the regime, which need to be understood by those practising in the field. This book provides practical analysis of the new legislation. It sets the Act and its supporting regulations in context, with the relevant materials from its inception and Parliamentary process, in order to ensure a thorough understanding of its implications. The book includes a copy of the Act in full. It will enable practitioners to avoid potential pitfalls and negotiate these radical legislative changes with confidence.