Planning Authorities
Nottinghamshire County Council, 7 district and borough councils and Nottingham City unitary authority
Two-tier system for most of Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire County Council handles minerals, waste, highways and is the Lead Local Flood Authority. The 7 district and borough councils below are the Local Planning Authorities for all other development. Nottingham City Council is a completely separate unitary authority handling all planning functions for the city itself - use their contact details for any development within the city boundary. The former coalfield affects large parts of Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood - Coal Authority consultation is required across these areas.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Minerals and waste planning; Lead Local Flood Authority; highways; Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record
NCC's Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the starting point for all archaeological and heritage desk-based assessments. NCC Highways is the highway authority for all county roads and must be consulted on transport-generating development. The Trent Valley is one of England's most important sand and gravel extraction areas; NCC holds the Minerals Local Plan.
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham city - separate unitary authority; Lace Market; Castle; regeneration; tram network; Robin Hood links
The Lace Market Conservation Area in Nottingham city centre is one of the finest Victorian industrial quarters in England, with many Grade II and Grade II* listed former lace warehouses. The NET tram network creates consultation zones around its infrastructure. Nottingham Castle (Grade I Scheduled Monument, rebuilt Grade I listed mansion) is at the heart of the city. The city is a major regeneration authority with significant waterfront and brownfield land development.
Ashfield District Council
Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Hucknall, Sutton-in-Ashfield - former coalfield; DH Lawrence country; M1 corridor
Hucknall in Ashfield District was the birthplace of DH Lawrence (writer of Women in Love, Sons and Lovers, Lady Chatterley's Lover) and also the burial place of Lord Byron. The district is almost entirely within the former East Midlands coalfield - Coal Authority consultation and Coal Mining Risk Assessments are routinely required. The M1 forms the western edge of the district.
Bassetlaw District Council
Worksop, Retford, East Retford - North Nottinghamshire; Pilgrim Fathers links; Dukeries estate country; A1 Great North Road corridor
Bassetlaw contains the "Dukeries" - a remarkable concentration of great estates including Welbeck, Thoresby, Clumber (National Trust) and Rufford. Scrooby village in the district is the origin of the Pilgrim Fathers. The district contains significant parts of Sherwood Forest SSSI and borders South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The A1/A1(M) is the main north-south spine; Worksop is the principal town.
Broxtowe Borough Council
Beeston, Stapleford, Eastwood, Kimberley - west Nottingham fringe; Erewash Valley; DH Lawrence birthplace Eastwood; M1 J26
Eastwood in Broxtowe is the birthplace of DH Lawrence and the DH Lawrence Heritage sites are a material planning consideration. Beeston town centre is a significant retail and commercial centre adjacent to the University of Nottingham. The Erewash Valley forms the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border and coal mining heritage runs through the western part of the borough. The NET tram Line 2 serves Beeston.
Gedling Borough Council
Arnold, Carlton, Calverton, Netherfield - north and east Nottingham fringe; Green Belt; former collieries; River Trent corridor
Gedling is a predominantly suburban borough wrapping around the north and east of Nottingham city. Significant Green Belt land applies in the northern and eastern parts of the borough. Former colliery sites at Calverton and Gedling provide brownfield regeneration opportunities. The Trent Valley to the east includes important flood plains and SSSI habitats.
Mansfield District Council
Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Forest Town - former coal mining heartland; Sherwood Forest fringe; regeneration town
Mansfield is a Levelling Up priority town with significant brownfield regeneration opportunity. The former coalfield is almost entirely within Coal Authority consultation areas. The district borders the ancient Sherwood Forest to the north. Mansfield is well served by the A38 and has direct rail links to Nottingham via the Robin Hood Line.
Newark and Sherwood District Council
Newark-on-Trent, Southwell, Blidworth, Ollerton, Edwinstowe - Sherwood Forest; Southwell Minster; Newark Castle; A1 corridor
The district contains both the heart of Sherwood Forest (Major Oak, Edwinstowe) and the historic market town of Newark-on-Trent with its ruined castle (Grade I Scheduled Monument, where King John died in 1216). Southwell Minster (Grade I) lies within the district. The A1 forms the eastern spine of the district. Significant sand and gravel extraction occurs in the Trent Valley to the east of Newark.
Rushcliffe Borough Council
West Bridgford, Bingham, Radcliffe on Trent, Ruddington, East Leake - affluent south Nottingham fringe; Vale of Belvoir fringe; Green Belt
West Bridgford is Nottingham's most affluent suburb, directly south of the city boundary. Significant Nottingham Green Belt wraps around the borough. The Vale of Belvoir character area extends into the south of the borough. Flintham Hall (Grade I) and Holme Pierrepont Hall are notable heritage assets. Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station (recently decommissioned, SSSI-adjacent) represents a major strategic brownfield site on the Trent.
Building Control
Building Regulations approval and inspections across Nottinghamshire
District, Borough and City Building Control Services
Each council operates its own building control service
Contact the relevant district or city council directly for building control: Nottingham City (0115 915 5555), Ashfield (01623 450000), Bassetlaw (01909 533533), Broxtowe (0115 917 7777), Gedling (0115 901 3901), Mansfield (01623 463463), Newark and Sherwood (01636 650000), Rushcliffe (0115 981 9911). Registered Building Control Approvers (private inspectors) operate across all parts of the county.
Heritage & Conservation
Southwell Minster, Sherwood Forest Major Oak, Clumber Park and the Dukeries
Historic England - East Midlands
Statutory consultee for listed buildings, scheduled monuments and conservation areas across Nottinghamshire
Key Nottinghamshire Grade I assets include Southwell Minster (Norman, extraordinary Chapter House Leaves of Southwell), Newark Castle (Scheduled Monument), Nottingham Castle, Holme Pierrepont Hall, Welbeck Abbey, Clumber Park registered landscape (Grade II* NT), Newstead Abbey (Lord Byron's estate), and Laxton village - the only surviving open-field medieval farming system in England, managed by the Crown Estate.
Southwell Minster
Church Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0HD - Grade I Norman cathedral; Leaves of Southwell Chapter House; Archdeaconry of Nottingham
Southwell Minster is a Norman cathedral of outstanding international significance, particularly its Chapter House (c.1290) which contains the finest naturalistic stone carving in medieval England - the "Leaves of Southwell" depicting oak, maple, hawthorn and hop leaves in astonishing botanical detail. The Minster's Conservation Area covers central Southwell. Development affecting the setting of the Minster is a sensitive matter for Newark and Sherwood District Council and Historic England.
Clumber Park - National Trust
Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3AZ - Grade II* Registered Park; 3,800 acres; Gothic Revival chapel; Lime Tree Avenue
Clumber Park is one of the great Dukeries estates - the former seat of the Dukes of Newcastle. The mansion was demolished in 1938 but the 3,800-acre park, Gothic Revival chapel (Grade I), lime avenue and lake survive. The registered landscape (Grade II*) requires careful consideration for any development in or affecting its setting. The park lies within Bassetlaw District.
Environment & Landscape
River Trent, Sherwood Forest SSSI and the former East Midlands coalfield
Environment Agency - Midlands
River Trent, River Idle, River Maun, River Soar at confluence - flood risk, water quality and permitting across Nottinghamshire
The River Trent - England's third longest river - flows south-west through Nottingham then north-east through Newark to the Humber estuary. Its flood plain is extensive and Flood Zones 2 and 3 affect large areas of Nottinghamshire. Trent Valley gravels are a significant extraction resource. The Trent is an important navigation managed by the Canal and River Trust between Shardlow and Cromwell Lock.
Natural England - East Midlands
Sherwood Forest SSSI; Trent Valley SSSIs; Misson Training Area; Nottingham Canal SSSI
Sherwood Forest SSSI protects the internationally important ancient oak woodland, including the Major Oak (estimated 800-1,000 years old). Development near the SSSI boundary or affecting ancient woodland requires Natural England consultation. Great crested newts are widespread. The Trent Valley supports important wetland habitats. Laxton's open-field system is a Scheduled Monument and SSSI.
Coal Authority
Former East Midlands coalfield - Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood consultation areas
The East Midlands coalfield is one of England's most extensive former mining areas, with deep and shallow workings, mine shafts, surface instability and methane migration risks across Ashfield, Mansfield, Gedling, Bassetlaw and northern Newark and Sherwood. Coal Mining Risk Assessments are frequently required. The Coal Authority's interactive map should be checked at the earliest stage for any development in these districts.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Water, electricity, gas and strategic roads serving Nottinghamshire
Severn Trent Water
Water supply and sewerage across most of Nottinghamshire
Anglian Water (0345 791 9155) serves parts of east Nottinghamshire, particularly towards the Lincolnshire border. Confirm the correct undertaker for your site before submitting planning applications.
National Grid Electricity Distribution - East Midlands
Electricity distribution across Nottinghamshire
Cadent Gas - East Midlands
Gas distribution network across Nottinghamshire
National Highways - M1, A1 and A46
M1 north-south; A1 Great North Road through Newark; A46 Newark-Lincoln; A52 Nottingham-Grantham
The M1 passes through the west of the county. The A1 (Great North Road) is the historic north-south trunk road through Newark, one of the most strategically important junction points in England. The A46 links Newark to the national road network. Development generating significant traffic on these routes requires Transport Assessment with National Highways as a statutory consultee.
Trade Bodies
Key construction industry organisations serving Nottinghamshire
Federation of Master Builders - East Midlands
Representing SME builders across Nottinghamshire
NHBC
New home warranty and building standards inspection across Nottinghamshire
LABC
Building control warranty services across Nottinghamshire