The active management of the distribution networks, with responsive loads and generators actively involved in the system management, has been recognized being the most promising solution to favorite the integration of renewable energy sources and to improve the efficiency of energy delivery. The active management typically involves the operation of the network but it may have also a strong impact in the distribution planning, due to the potential benefits of improving network reliability and voltage regulation and of reducing energy losses. In the paper a planning methodology, based on novel and improved algorithms, that allows the planner to explicitly consider some of the most important function of the active network like demand side response, network reconfiguration, active and reactive control, is presented. The application of the algorithm to significant case studies proved that active management is truly a solution for an economic operation of the system that does not limit the integration of renewable energy sources and novel technologies in the medium short term.