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With effect from the 1st March 2008 there will be a number of changes in the way Planning & Transport receives and replies to enquiries from applicants who wish to apply or have received planning permission.

1.  Advice before submitting a planning application 

The Planning Board recognises the importance of the Council offering a comprehensive and professional pre-application advice service to applicants. The current free service for the provision of this advice is now withdrawn and revised guidelines are being introduced. A Planning Advice Note explaining these changes and the new adopted charging scheme, can be viewed on the link at the bottom of this page.

2.  Development enquiries

Enquiries relating to proposed development will be considered by the formal Certificate of Lawfulness process of the Town & Country Planning Act. However, should an applicant for householder development require an informal opinion (that is not binding on the Council) they will be asked to complete an application form for “Householder and Permitted Developments: Do I Need Planning Permission”. The same service is available to applicants for non-householder enquiries on receipt of full written details. With effect from the 1st October 2008 all enquiries will be answered according to the amended rules and the fee for this service is £65.

Advice on whether a proposed development requires planning permission is also available from professional advisors such as Planning Consultants.  Advice can also be found at a number of web sites including;

The Planning Portal

The Planning Portal - visual guide for householders

The Planning Portal - Building Work

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

3.  Alterations once planning permission has been granted

Although the Council do not legally have to approve any alterations to an approved scheme, applicants often contact the Council with suggested alterations to approved schemes.  A charging scheme applies to the consideration of alterations because of the significant resource implications on the Planning Control Service. The current fee for this service is £75.

Leaflets to explain these changes and provide advice are available from Planning & Transport reception at the Town Hall Annexe and by clicking on the links below:

Pre-Application Advice & Amendments to Submitted Applications  (110kb PDF)

Post Decision Alterations to Approved Plans  (127kb PDF)

Householder and Permitted Development (PD) enquiry (155kb PDF)