The Planning Team
The planning team operates within two sections, headed by Roy Merrett (Development Manager) and Steve Petch (Planning and Economic Strategy Manager), based within the Regeneration Division of the Chief Executive's Department.
Development Control
Headed by Principal Planning Officer, Dave Coates, this group primarily deals with planning applications and various aspects of planning control, including enforcement.
Planning Policy
Headed by Principal Planning Officer, Valerie Adams, this group is mainly occupied with providing advice on planning policy matters, production of the Local Development Framework and other planning policy documents such as the Local Plan.
Specialist Support
A separate team based within the Development Section deals with design, conservation, project management, technical support, mapping and GIS.
Elsewhere within the authority, there are staff who are consulted regularly to provide expertise on matters such as planning law and highways safety.
Administrative Support
A team of administration staff is dedicated primarily to planning. Its duties include dealing with enquiries and processing planning applications.
There is also a reception desk designated to planning in the Customer Service Centre in the Town Hall.
A Call Centre has been set up to deal with telephone enquiries on behalf of all Darlington Borough Council departments, to encompass all of its services, including planning.