Town and Country Planning Act 1953.

The Act is organised in 3 Parts. Part 1 regulates the general planning schemes; it clarifies the purpose, the process and procedures for approval and establishes an obligation to conform for every public body and local authority in the performance of their duties and functions. Every regional planning scheme shall have for its general purpose the conservation and economic development of the region to which it relates, shall classify the lands comprised therein for the purposes for which they are best suited by nature or for which they can best be adapted, and shall not be limited by the boundaries of the district of anyone local authority, or do not relate exclusively to the development of anyone such district. Every regional planning scheme shall be designed as a guide to Councils engaged in the preparation of district schemes. Part 1 also established that for the purposes of every regional planning Regional scheme proposed to be prepared there shall be a Regional Planning Authority consisting of the representative or representatives of the several Councils.
Part 2 concerns district schemes, it provides for the discipline and establishes the purpose. Under this Part every district scheme shall have for its general purpose the development of the area to which it relates in such a way as will most effectively tend to promote and safeguard the health, safety and convenience, and the economic and general welfare of its inhabitants, and the amenities of every part of the area. The Part continues by saying that every Council shall provide and maintain in accordance with this Part of this Act, an operative district scheme in respect of all land within its district.
Part 3, miscellaneous, establishes the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board.