Visiting Us on Planning Matters

Where to Go

Planning is based at the Town Hall, Darlington. If you wish visit us in person, please go to the Customer Service Centre (formerly the old rates hall, which is to the right of the main Town Hall entrance). The opening times are Mon-Thu 8:45am-4:45pm and Fri 8:45am-4:15pm.

The Service

Our reception desk and duty office are equipped to provide the following services:

to view current planning applications and other planning records;
to obtain application forms;
to submit a planning application;
to pay application fees and other planning fees;
to view or obtain planning policy documents.

In addition, a Planning Duty Officer is available each day 8:45am-1:00pm to provide technical and specialist advice if required.

Pre-Planning Application Advice

At Darlington, we are looking at ways of increasing the efficiency of the Development Control Service. One goal is to seek to smooth out as many potential problems and issues at pre-application stage so that so far as possible development proposals are shaped into an acceptable form by the time the formal application is made. See Pre-Application Advice "One Stop Shop".

Points to Note

If you wish to view non-current planning applications or other archived records, please contact us in advance.
If you wish to speak to a specific officer, you will need to arrange an appointment.

Alternatives to Visiting

In most cases, the same service can be provided without the need for you to visit in person, e.g.:

We can provide advice over the telephone or via email. See Who to Contact.
We can accept requests for various services over the telephone or via email. See Who to Contact.
You can search and view basic details of planning applications online.
You can comment on (or object to) an application either online, by letter or via email.
You can submit your planning application by post. It is also possible to submit an application online.
Application forms can be sent to you by post. Alternatively, copies are available for downloading on this website.
Fees can be paid by credit card over the phone or by posting a cheque.
You can submit a Permitted Development Enquiry (i.e. a request to determine whether or not planning permission is required for a household extension) either online or by post. Or you can even submit these by fax.
All of our policy documents are published online and can be downloaded. The Local Plan (including maps) is available online.
Advice on most aspects of the planning service is provided on this website. See alphabetical index or contents page.