The Planning Application Process
This section will provide you with information on how the planning process works and is divided into the following sections:
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Pre Application Stage – includes how to obtain advice and guidance with details of the pre application advice service and the Duty Planner.
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Post Application – appeals, non-material amendments and the discharging of conditions.
You may need permission to develop your property. This includes developing land, extending buildings and the change of use of land or buildings. However some minor developments may be considered to be ‘permitted development’ and not need a full planning application.
You may still need other kinds of planning approval such as:
- Advert Consent (see Adverts section)
- Listed Building Consent
- Conservation Area Consent
Go to the Planning Portal website for further information on the types of permissions.
You may still need other kinds of approval such as:
- Consents for works to protected trees, such as trees with a Trees Preservation Order or trees within a Conservation Area (Contact the Landscape section. For further information see the Tree Preservation Order section of the Council’s website
- Building Regulations - contact Building Control
The planning process will usually take 8 weeks or 13 weeks for major applications, and will include a site visit by the case officer, consultation with neighbours, statutory bodies and other interested bodies, before a decision is made. However, some applications may go to Committee (see Planning Committee section to find out how and why applications are referred to Committee) and if refused the applicant may appeal the decision. A overview of the planning process can be found on the Planning Portal.
Planning Aid
Planning Aid provides free, independent and professional help, advice and support on planning issues to people and communities who cannot afford to hire a planning consultant. Planning Aid complements the work of local authorities but is wholly independent of them.
Planning Aid is part of a charity and is operated through a small team of paid staff and a network of volunteers of qualified Town and Country planners.
For further information please visit http://www.rtpi.org.uk/planningaid/ or call the helpline on 0870 850 9801.
Planning Aid North/South/East/West/etc is part of Planning Aid England, a service run by the Royal Town Planning Institute (Head Office: Royal Town Planning Institute, 41 Botolph Lane, London EC3R 8DL. Registered Charity 262865 in England & Wales and SC037841 in Scotland). Planning Aid is run independently in Wales and Scotland.
For developers who apply to a number of different Local Authorities, we have produced a brief Pre Application Checklist - Guide for Developers to highlight relevant information required to assist in the planning process.
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