Permission to Build Act 2026 A Bill to restore the ancient right to build upon private land without discretionary planning permission. Since 1947, no citizen has held an unqualified right to develop land he lawfully owns. The planning system reversed the presumption of liberty: instead of the State having to show lawful cause to restrain a man’s use of his property, the citizen must first ask permission. Nearly 80 years later, the result is a system in which the State decides what may be built, where, and often whether anything may be built at all. This Act would: 1️⃣Repeal the requirement for discretionary planning permission as a precondition to development. 2️⃣Restore the right of individuals and companies to build upon land they lawfully own, subject to common-law nuisance, building and safety regulations, and genuine protections for neighbouring rights and shared amenity. 3️⃣Replace discretionary permission with registration and compliance: build by right, subject to clear rules, rather than build only by permission. The presumption of liberty is restored: A man may build upon his own land. If the State says he may not, the State must show lawful cause. Property is not truly private if its lawful use depends upon permission from the State.