Planning Committee

Three Rivers District Council determines some 1500-1800 applications each year and approximately 95% of these are dealt with under officer delegated powers. The Planning Committee (formerly known as Development Control Committee) - a regulatory committee of the Council - takes place once a month at Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth and determines applications which are referred to the Committee (approximately 5%).

Planning Committee Meetings and Councillors
Procedure for Speaking at a Meeting

Applications are referred to the Planning Committee for several reasons: 

• At the request of the Development Manager
• by three Planning Committee Councillors
• by the Parish Council
• the applicant is related to, or is close to a Council employee or Councillor
• the application site is owned by, or is close to a Council employee or Councillor

Often the cases which are heard at the Planning Committee are the larger and more complex proposals.

Any member of the public can attend Planning Committee meetings.  You can also speak at a Committee meeting about a planning application listed on the agenda that you are interested in.  If you would like to speak, you need to register just before the start of the meeting.

Please note: registering to speak is on a first come first serve basis.  One speaker is allowed in support of an application and one against, each speaking for a maximum of 3 minutes each.

There are occasions when a decision on an application is deferred to the next committee meeting predominantly, for the members to attend a site visit.

It should be noted that not all applications are heard at Planning Committee as a significant proportion are determined under delegated powers.