What to do to get planning permission…….

Before submitting for planning permission, there’s a few good steps to take to improve your chances of success Talking to us will help you understand fully the best way for success.

The first step is to seek pre-application advice from the local planning authority, who will allocate planning officer to assess your proposal, advise changes needed, the supporting information needed to validate a full planning application.

Some local authorities charge for pre-application advice (there is no nationally fixed fee but expect to pay £50-£100). Its important to remember that any advice from the planning officers as part of pre-application advice is not binding on the final decision.

Our planners and designers have experience of dealing with local planning authorities and will be able to tell you is the application is potentially contentious and help you understand the planning officers response.

If the application could be contentious think about talking to your neighbours before making the application, explain your proposals – it’s often a good idea to share plans or sketches, or even 3D models, to help them visualise what you hope to achieve.

Making an Application

Your planning application can be made using paper forms or by completing the application form online via planningportal.gov.uk. You can appoint a planning consultant to complete the forms or you can do so yourself.  If you are applying for permission and you don’t yet own the land remember you will need to  You do not need to own the land to be able to apply for permission but you must inform the owners.

Most applications need to be accompanied by a ‘Design & Access Statement’, which sets out the ideas behind the design and justifies it in in terms of local and national planning policy.

Remember local planning authorities will only accept  and determine a planning applcaition if you have paid them a fee – we can advise what the fees are, for example its £385 for a new build and £172 for an application which covers extensions and refurbishment.

Getting permission 

Most applications will be decided within eight weeks, if the local planning authority needs longer they will ask you for an extension of time. A decision notice will be issued to you – either an approval or a refusal. Both with small print that needs to be read carefully as it will affect what you can do next, ‘make a start’ or ‘appeal’.

Remember that the local authority will consult with people and organisations who they think may have an interest in your proposal.

Your case officer will advise you on the consultation responses and suggest any changes that you might need to make to overcome objections or concerns.

Simple householder applications are usually approval by the case officer using delegated powers. More complex proposals and those with objections are usually decided by,a planning committee of elected politicians. Many committees’ welcome a brief statement being made to them about the proposal – we can advise on this or make the presentation.

If there are a number of objections to your proposal we may advise you to withdraw the application, make some amendments and then resubmit – which is usually free of an fee to the local planning authority.

….so its that simple! feel free to get in touch if you need any help!

 

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