The Small Stuff – The Day-to-Day but Important Work of the Planning Office

Much of the day-to-day work of a planning office consists of small matters including house extensions, infill with one, or small number of, dwellings, change of use preservation of trees and conservation of built heritage. Although each decision may be small in itself, the cumulative effect is, nevertheless, very important for the implementation of broader planning goals. In making decisions on these matters, planners not only have to consider urban design principles, and other wider policy implications, but often have to balance the competing interests of neighbours.