County Spatial & Land Use Planning
County-scale spatial frameworks linking land use, infrastructure and development priorities.
01 · What this plan helps resolve
A county needs a spatial picture of how its settlements, productive land, infrastructure, ecosystems and public investment fit together. That picture should explain where growth is directed, where constraints need attention and which actions deserve priority.
We support evidence gathering, spatial proposals, stakeholder engagement and implementation planning within a defined county commission. The brief names the required instrument precisely. A County Spatial Plan under the County Governments Act and a county physical and land use development plan under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act have related but distinct legal foundations and preparation requirements.
02 · When to commission this service
- A county is preparing or reviewing a defined spatial or land use planning instrument.
- Existing investment priorities need to be examined against settlement growth, access, resource use and environmental constraints.
- A commissioning team needs GIS, baseline, sector integration or implementation work within a wider county planning programme.
03 · Outputs for your commissioning team
- A county spatial baseline and thematic mapping package that records source information, coverage and priority evidence gaps.
- Options and a preferred spatial framework connecting settlement growth, land use, infrastructure and environmental considerations.
- Commissioned consultation records, development guidance and an implementation framework with priorities and responsibilities.
04 · From brief to planning package
- Confirm the statutory instrument and terms of reference
- Analyse county conditions and development options
- Support consultation, review and implementation planning
05 · Starting information
- Commissioning brief
- Existing county spatial and development plans
- County boundaries, sector data and stakeholder schedule
06 · Scope and responsibilities
The proposal defines the commissioned outputs, professional roles, data needs and review process. Technical, statutory and partner responsibilities are agreed before work starts.
For technical teams
Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019; Ministry of Lands Physical and Land Use Planning Handbook, December 2025. County Governments Act, 2012, section 110.
Points to agree in the technical brief
- Specify whether the commission concerns a County Spatial Plan, a county physical and land use development plan, or a defined technical input to either instrument.
- Agree the settlement hierarchy, thematic evidence, spatial options and relationship with existing county and sector plans.
- Set the map scales, GIS handover, implementation priorities and monitoring measures in the terms of reference.
07 · Common questions
Which county planning instrument should we commission?
Begin with the authority's mandate and intended decisions. The brief should identify the relevant statutory instrument and its relationship to the county's other plans and programmes.
Can existing county data be reused?
Yes. We review currency, coverage, accuracy and permissions before agreeing what can support the commission and what needs updating.
Is adoption included?
The written scope identifies technical preparation, review support and authority-led stages. Adoption and other statutory decisions remain with the responsible public bodies.
Make the next step clear
Share the location, your intended outcome and the information already available. Discuss your project →