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The Planning Application
The success of any planning application will depend upon the quality of the information that is submitted. Unless you have experience or indeed feel confident in the planning application process, Do I Need Planning Permission recommended that you engage an agent to act on your behalf. From completing the planning application forms to submitting building regulations, you can rest assured that a proficient agent can handle the paperwork and understand how your local authority operates.
Once the forms together with the proposed drawings are complete, the planning application and appropriate fee are submitted to your local authority who will determine your planning application. Unless you can demonstrate very good reasons to override planning policy, your application will be determined in line with the current policy for your particular area.
Points that will be looked at include the following:
- number, size, layout, siting and external appearance of buildings,
- proposed means of access, landscaping and impact on the neighbourhood
- availability of infrastructure, such as roads, and water supply; and
- proposed use of the development.
Interestingly, you do not have to be the owner of the land in order to make a planning application. If you are not the owner, you will have to inform that person of your intention to submit an application.
Whilst the use of an agent will incur a fee, as experience shows, this is often money well spent. An agent who has experience of working within your geographical area, will have a grasp of local regulations and policy and more often than not, will understand what your council will expect from any development. Moreover, whilst the completion of planning application forms is straightforward, if the forms have been incorrectly completed, it means that your application is not registered and valuable time is wasted. The key to any successful proposal is preparation.
Once your application has been registered, your local authority should decide it within 8 weeks. For various reasons, it may be that the authority is unable to do this and if this is the case, you should receive written confirmation that the authority intends to extend the period of determination. If the authority fails to do this, you can appeal on the grounds of non-determination to the First Secretary of State. For further information on this, please visit our Appeal Section.
You might want to consider information in these additional areas:
