Building Regulation and Planning Applications: How does the Council deal with them?

After you make a planning application we will acknowledge it and place it on the public planning register. Then we will tell neighbours, maybe fix a notice near the site or sometimes place a notice in the local newspaper. We also consult statutory bodies such as amenity groups or the Environment Agency. The comments we receive can highlight legitimate problems so you will be contacted about these if we think they are important.

When an application departs from our policy and a special case is being made for approval or there have been significant objections to a proposal recommended for approval then the application will be referred to the Council's Planning Committee.

If the Council is slow with your application, ask when a decision is likely. If you feel the Council is taking too long over a decision you can appeal. If permission is granted the council will send you a letter telling you of the decision. The permission is valid for five years so you can start any time during that period but not starting will mean reapplying and circumstances can change so don't assume approval is automatic.

If permission is subject to conditions, like submitting details of materials or submitting a landscaping scheme then you must do this normally before starting to build.

The council will give reasons for any conditions. If you do not agree them discuss the position with the planning officer who can help you, alternatively you can appeal.

If outline permission has been granted, you will need to submit for the approval of reserved matters within 3 years.

You can make minor changes to the scheme as you proceed but check first. Any significant variation will require a further planning application.

Planning permission runs with the land meaning that land or buildings can be sold with the benefit of planning permission.

Sometimes planning conditions limit consent to a named person so if you wish occupy a building with such a condition you need to have the condition removed. You do this by applying for planning consent in the normal way but requesting that the particular condition is removed.