What is Planning Control?

Planning Control is the process, which regulates the development and use of land. This includes the erection of new buildings and the change of use of buildings or land. The Council's objective is to ensure that new development complies with planning policy, harmonises with the environment and protects amenity. A framework for development is set out in Government Policy, the County Structure Plan and the Borough's Local Plan and planning applications are considered against this framework.

The aim is to make the best decision about each application, not necessarily the quickest. This means taking into account a proposal's impact upon the environment and the interests of the community. The needs of the applicant must be balanced against the effect a proposal may have on neighbouring people, businesses and the wider public interest.

We deal with over 1,500 planning applications each year and several hundred letters seeking planning advice and information. Some 15,000 letters are posted annually informing neighbours of planning applications. Decisions on simple applications are delegated to officers. More contentious or larger applications are considered by elected councillors at the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee. If the application is going to committee, applicants and neighbours who write in, are told the date of the committee and recommendation 5 days beforehand. Public speaking at Committee has been introduced where you can speak at committee on a particular application, one objector and one supporter and the Parish Council is allowed to address the Committee members for 3 minutes.  The applicant / agent is allowed a 3 minute right of reply to speakers who object to a proposal.

How the Planning Process works?

• Submit Application
• Application checked and acknowledged
• Notify neighbours who may be affected
• Consultation with other organisations
• Site visit by officer
• Negotiate if necessary
• Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee considers application or delegated decision made by the Development Control Manager
• Applications approved or refused
• Decision Notice issued
• If an application is refused, the applicant can appeal to the Secretary of State

Our aim is to provide a responsive and effective Planning Control service to everyone and to ensure the highest quality of environment in the Borough. Therefore we will:

• Provide pre application guidance and advice on planning matters.
• Seek to raise standards of new development in the Borough in terms of design, layout, landscaping, materials and its impact on the area and negotiate improvements to submitted proposals where appropriate.
• Deal with the majority of applications within 8 weeks of registering them.
• Reply to letters with 10 working days (our target is 90% of letters replied to within 10 working days).
• Answer or return your telephone calls.
• Write to neighbours who are next to a development site and tell them where you can inspect the plans.
• Tell applicants and neighbours when an application is going to committee and the recommendation.
• Summarise letters from the applicant and neighbours in the report to the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee or on a late letters schedule.
• Deal with your enquiries in a helpful and courteous manner.
• Issue decision notices within 3 working days of the committee meeting.
• Inform applicants how to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate if they are unhappy with the decision

Keeping you informed

Each year the Council publishes standards for planning applications and development control using nationally recognised performance indicators.

The Development Control Service Portfolio can be found using the link below 

• Development Control - Service Portfolio