Petitions/Clarify the legal definition of “adjacent to a highway” in planning law
StatusClosed
Opened15 Sept 2025
Closes15 Mar 2026
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

There is no legal definition of what counts as “adjacent” to a public highway or footway. We think this creates confusion and inconsistent decisions by local authorities.

We want the government to make a judgement on what counts as adjacent to a public highway or footway for permitted development rights and give a distance in metres. Otherwise, we think local authorities have too much authority.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Shaun Davies
1Shaun Davies MP
Telford
4
Kate Dearden
2Kate Dearden MP
Halifax
3
Josh Newbury
3Josh Newbury MP
Cannock Chase
1
Sir Christopher Chope
4Sir Christopher Chope MP
Christchurch
1
Danny Kruger
5Danny Kruger MP
East Wiltshire
1
David Davis
6David Davis MP
Goole and Pocklington
1
Rachel Hopkins
7Rachel Hopkins MP
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
1
Martin Wrigley
8Martin Wrigley MP
Newton Abbot
1
Sadik Al-Hassan
9Sadik Al-Hassan MP
North Somerset
1
Clive Lewis
10Clive Lewis MP
Norwich South
1
Clarify the legal definition of “adjacent to a highway” in planning law — Petitions