Planning and Building Control - Planning Applications

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Application Process

Back of a man on a computer We strongly recommend pre-application discussions.

Duty Officer Hours Appointment System

As of 21^st January 2013 the Duty Planner system at the Council changed in order to improve the level of dedicated customer support we provide. The Council operate an appointment system only and you are guaranteed of meeting with a Duty Planner if you have made a prior appointment. This can be done by calling 01277 312620 and speaking to an administration officer to book an appointment. Appointment times will be between:

Monday 9am to 1pm
Tuesday 10am to 1pm
Wednesday 10am to 1pm
Thursday 2pm to 4:30pm
Friday 1pm to 3:30pm

The Duty Planner will only be in a position to answer general questions regarding planning queries and not ‘site’ specific queries. For any site specific queries these must be submitted as a pre-application query which can be made via the following link: www.brentwood.gov.uk/preapplicationadvice

We will provide information about the relevant planning policies and site history and, where appropriate, the Council's standards for such matters as car parking provision and private amenity space, but we cannot tell you for certain whether or not you will get permission. This is because applications involve public participation and consultation with other bodies and decisions are sometimes made by the Planning Committee. It is not always possible, therefore, to anticipate the final outcome of an application. There is no charge for this service but we cannot offer advice on site specific issues, for this type of advice you would need to apply for a Pre-application Advice meeting.

We aim to deal with your application within 8 weeks of receiving it (13 weeks for major applications), although this is not always possible. This is a Government target for all local authorities in the country. The Council's performance in this regard can be viewed via the website of the Department of Communities and Local Government

A flow chart has been produced to help explain the application process. The explanatory notes set out below accompany the flow chart.

Advice for applicants on the application process is set out in the Planning Charter for Applicants.

Application Submission

The Council encourages and welcomes the submission of applications on-line by clicking on the following link:

Online Planning Application Submission

Once an application is submitted, we aim to register and acknowledge it within 2 working days. The acknowledgement will give the name and telephone number of the Case Officer dealing with the application. A target date by which we hope to make a decision will also be given.

The Case Officer will determine whether the application is valid. If not, you will be written to separately and asked to provide the necessary information. Your application will not be processed until the missing information is received.

Consultation and Publicity

We publicise applications and ask the views of neighbours and other interested parties, where appropriate, before making a decision. Your application will be available for public inspection at the Town Hall and on this website.

Consultation letters will generally be sent out within one week of receiving a valid application. Neighbour notification letters are delivered by hand when the Case Officer visits the application site. A site notice may also be displayed and a notice may appear in the Brentwood Gazette. Unless otherwise required by legislation, consultees and neighbours will be allowed 21 days to comment, after which the application may be determined.

Amendments and Additional Information

If your proposal is unacceptable as submitted but amendments could overcome the concerns, where practicable, the Case Officer will contact you or your agent to discuss them. A reasonable time period will be given in order for you to send us amended drawings. If, at the end of that period, we have not received the amendments, the Council will determine the application as originally submitted.

Decision Making

All applications are determined via the Weekly Report or by the Council's Planning Committee.

The Weekly Report is published every Friday and contains both a report and recommendation for each application that requires determination at that time. The report is circulated to every Councillor and Parish Council, who have a specified period (usually ten days) to review its content. If, at the end of the period, no Councillor or Parish Council has referred the application to the Planning Committee, in liaison with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee, the decision is delegated to the Chief Planning Officer.

Larger or more contentious applications are reported to the monthly Planning Committee. If your application is reported direct to or is referred to Committee, you will receive written notification. You will be given an opportunity to address the Committee for 3 minutes, as will any supporter, residents' association/amenity group and objector.

Notifying you of the Decision

We aim to issue all decision notices within 1 working day of an application being determined. A decision to grant permission may be subject to conditions, which will be clearly set out in the notice together with the reasons any conditions have been imposed. If your application has been refused, the notice will be accompanied by an explanation of your rights of appeal. If you would like further clarification or an explanation of the decision taken, you should contact the Case Officer who dealt with the application.

Making an Appeal

Information on making an appeal against the Council's decision to refuse planning permission or to grant permission subject to conditions is set out on the Appeals-Planning page.

Implementing Developments

Any grant of planning permission may be subject to conditions which require you to submit further details for approval by the Council. Details submitted for approval will usually be dealt with within 20 working days of receipt.

Development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans and any conditions attached to the permission. It is the Applicant's responsibility to let the Council know if amendments to the approved plans are necessary. If amendments are required, further planning permission may be needed. The Case Officer will be able to advise as to this requirement and he/she should be contacted as soon as practicable.

The development will be inspected by the Case Officer upon commencement and completion. This inspection is separate to any inspection carried out by Building Surveying Services as part of the Building Regulation Consent process.

Planning permission does not override normal property rights and a development can only be carried out with the permission of all affected landowners. For example, permission may be needed from your neighbour for the construction access or if the development affects a party wall. In addition, due regard must be given to any restrictive covenants that may affect your property.