Once a planning application has been validated, applications should be decided in a statutory time limit, as listed below, unless a longer period is agreed in writing with the applicant.
A full list of consent types can be found on the Planning Portal's website.
Application decision timescales
These applications should be decided within 8 weeks from the date of receipt.
At the current time, no extension of times are to be agreed between us and the applicant. Therefore, if we do not consider the application to be acceptable in planning terms, the application will be refused and you will be required to resubmit an application to address the reasons for refusal.
Householder planning applications provide a simplified process for proposals to alter or enlarge a single house (but not a flat), including works within the boundary/garden. This is commonly used if you are a homeowner wishing to complete work on your home.
These applications should be determined within 8 weeks, unless an extension of time has been agreed in writing by the applicant. This is regardless of whether a planning application is also required.
Listed building consent is a type of planning control, which protects buildings of special architectural or historical interest. These controls are in addition to any planning regulations which would normally apply.
For certain classes of permitted development, it is necessary to apply to the Local Planning Authority for its 'Prior Approval; or to determine if its 'Prior Approval' is needed. The timescales for these to be decided are complex.
Certain types of development are granted planning permission by national legislation without the need to submit a planning application. This is known as 'Permitted Development'. Certain classes of permitted development need to submit an application to for its 'Prior Approval; or to determine if it’s 'Prior Approval' will be required. This allows us to consider the proposals, their likely impacts and how these may be mitigated.
These applications should be decided within 8 weeks from the date of receipt, unless an extension of time has been agreed in writing by the applicant within the 8-week statutory period.
A minor planning application is a type of application for development that does not meet the criteria for major planning applications (below), typically involving smaller-scale projects.
These applications should be determined within 13 weeks from the date of receipt, unless an extension of time has been agreed in writing by the applicant
Major applications are defined in planning terms as:
- the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits
- waste development
- building 10 or more dwelling houses on a site is 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the number of dwelling houses is unknown
- creating a building or buildings where the floor space is 1,000 square metres or more
- the development site is one hectare or more
Major applications could include outline, reserved matters or full applications.
The timescales for these applications will depend on what the original application to which the Section 73 application relates to. For example, a Section 73 application for a Minor Application, should be determined within 8 weeks from the date of receipt, where as a Section 73 application for a Major Application, should be determined within 13 weeks from the date of receipt.
These should be decided within 28 days of an application being received unless an extension of time has been agreed in writing by the applicant.
A non-material amendment may be applied for to approve a minor change to the planning permission and does not breach any original conditions.
These should be decided within 8 weeks unless an extension of time has been agreed in writing by the applicant within the 8-week statutory period.
A discharge of conditions application is a formal request to a local planning authority to approve or remove specific conditions attached to a planning permission, allowing development to proceed.
The timescales for this type of application is dependent on whether the scale of development proposed is classed as Minor or Major development.
Outline planning applications are used to gain an understanding as to whether the nature of a development is acceptable.
The timescales for Reserved Matters applications are either 8 weeks or 13 weeks depending on whether the application is classed as a major or minor development.
An application for Approval of Reserved Matters is only required when the applicant already has outline planning permission for a development. This cannot be used as a stand-alone application for planning permission.
These applications should be determined within 5 weeks from date of receipt. However, please be aware whilst we aim to keep to this timescale, it is not uncommon for the determination date for this type of application to be extended as agreed in writing by the applicant. If we approve the PIP application, the applicant will then be required to submit a Technical Details Consent application.
Tree Preservation Order (TPO) tree work applications are decided in 8 weeks.
Trees in a conservation area that are not protected by an Order are protected by the provisions in section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. These provisions require a notification to be sent to the local planning authority, using a ‘section 211 notice’, 6 weeks before carrying out certain work on such trees, unless an exception applies.
The work may go ahead before the end of the 6-week period if the local planning authority gives consent, or at the end of the 6-week period if the authority raises no objection. This notice period gives the authority an opportunity to consider whether to make a Tree Preservation Order on the tree.