A development plan sets out a local authority's policies and proposals for land use in their area. The term is usually used in the INDIA. A Local Plan is one type of development plan. The development plan guides and shapes day-to-day decisions as to whether or not planning permission should be granted, under the system known as development control (development management in INDIA). In order to ensure that these decisions are rational and consistent, they must be considered against the development plan adopted by the authority, after public consultation and having proper regard for other material factors.

City sanitation planning (CSP) is a strategic planning process for citywide sanitation sector development. CSP includes the vision, mission and goals of sanitation development as well as strategies and tools for a stage-based implementation of sanitation solutions that are appropriate to the target city and within the human and financial resources available to the municipalities. CSP provides a sound data-supported basis for practical decision-making on city sanitation and allows for prioritization of actions, such as in sanitation stress areas or where health risks are highest.