Spooner Row Message Board

Development Management Planning

In light of the announcement on Monday 23^rd March by the Prime Minister, to introduce stricter controls in relation to the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, the Council will be managing planning applications in the following way:

Applications will be validated and allocated to an officer as usual.

Officers will no longer be carrying out site visits nor posting site notices.

Neighbour notification letters and consultations required for each application will be sent out as usual.

There is a statutory requirement to post a site notice on a number of applications (including those that are within a conservation area; that affect the setting of a listed building; that are a ‘major application’ i.e. 10 or more dwellings or 1000sqm or more for non-residential; or where the application is contrary to the Development Plan.)  Where a site notice is required this will still need to be done, but will only be erected once the current restrictions set by the Prime Minister are relaxed to ensure the safety of the public and our staff.  This will mean that there is a likely delay in the Council being able to determine the application.

Where officers need to visit the site to enable an assessment to be made this will result in a delay in the Council being able to determine the application.  The Council will seek to use other ways to assess proposals where appropriate including the use of streetview (where up to date and where the proposal and its context is visible); previous knowledge and photos of the property and context (if a recent site visit has been made); in some instances photos from the applicant may be requested and this will be considered on an case by case basis.  Where this is not possible, Officers will visit the site once the current restrictions are relaxed or lifted.

The Council will be seeking in the above scenarios, as is recommended by government and is usual practice, to agree an extension of time with the applicant for a revised date in which to determine the application by.  The Case officer for each application will contact applicants individually in this respect and we trust that applicants and agents will work with the Council and be cooperative with this approach.

Parish/Towncouncils will continue to be consulted and in most instances have the ability to comment on planning applications without the need to convene a meeting.  However Parish/Town Councils are advised to contact the case officer should they be unable to comment on an applications in the required 21 day period or do not have appropriate constitutional arrangements in place to do so.  We will of course, as always, consider requests for further time for Parish/Town Councils to comment on a case by case basis depending on the particular circumstances of each application.

We are reliant on responses from statutory consultees in most instances in order to determine a planning application.  We may experience a delay in responses and again the case officer will keep applicants and agents updated.

In respect of contact with the case officer/the council offices during this period, as you will appreciate the majority of staff are working remotely and email contact in the first instance is suggested and preferred, however we do have office cover and will do all we can to help you on the first point of contact or ask the case officer to contact you directly.

Whilst we are working hard to maintain our usual efficient service, as we are working in different ways to respond to the restrictions of Coronavirus at this time, you may experience a delay.  The Case officer will be in touch with you to discuss implications on individual applications.

The planned Planning Committee/Development Management Committee for April have been postponed and in line with Government Advice we are looking at ways to convene these meetings in May and will post a further update once the way forward has been agreed.

Please note that this procedure will be kept under review in light of any further updates and changes from the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enforcement

In the current climate, we are operating at a reduced staffing level. Assessments of the breach you have reported may take longer than normal. We may request further information from you to aid in the investigation; such as photographs or measurements.

We are not carrying out site visits at this time unless there is a specific urgent matter and we will consider this on a case by case basis.

In respect of contact with the case officer/the council offices during this period, as you will appreciate the majority of staff are working remotely and email contact in the first instance is suggested and preferred, however we do have office cover and will do all we can to help you on the first point of contact or ask the case officer to contact you directly.

Whilst we are working hard to maintain our usual efficient service, as we are working in different ways to respond to the restrictions of Coronavirus at this time, you may experience a delay.  The Case officer will be in touch with you to discuss implications on individual applications and enforcement complaints.

The Government has introduced some new legislation that came into force on the 24 March and is in place until the 23 Marc 2021. This allows Class A3 restaurants and cafes and other Class A4 Drinking uses to expand without planning permission for the provision of takeaway foods. More on this can be found via the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/330/made The Government has also advised that local planning authorities should use their discretion on the enforcement of planning conditions which hinder the effective response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note that this procedure will be kept under review in light of any further updates and changes from the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.