The inspector conducting the examination of the Darlington local plan has concluded that main modifications are required to make the plan sound. A consultation on these modifications has now started.
For more information please visit the local plan website.
Send any general enquiries by email to [email protected] as normal. To ensure you receive a response please provide a valid email.
Case officers will be available by email. This is the preferred method of contact. Contact by phone is available. This can be with the case officer or through the planning support team. The phone number is 01325 405656.
We ask that you communicate with officers via email. You will get a phone call back from the officers if required.
Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for Housing and Communities and Local Government issued a statement about delivery restrictions. Read the full statement [external link]
The statement sets out that local planning authorities should take a positive approach to their engagement with food retailers and distributors.
They should take this approach with the freight industry to ensure planning controls are not a barrier to food delivery during the coronavirus.
As a planning authority we will follow the government advice and will not enforce planning restrictions of the delivery of food and essentials during this period.
Planning enforcement enquiries should be made through the council's Planning Enforcement webpage.
The service will continue to investigate alleged breaches of planning control as far as it is currently possible. Enforcement site visits will only take place for the very highest priority cases. This will occur only where the Council is satisfied that the risk of further transmission of COVID-19 to staff and the public can be avoided.
Pre-application advice is a valuable tool in the development management process.
The council is still able to offer the majority of these services. However;
Officers will be able to consider any photographs that are provided. Listing Building enquiries can be emailed to [email protected].
Site visits for planning applications can occur where it is safe for the case officer and applicant to do so.
Where the applicant/s are self-isolating or have symptoms please let your case officer know in advance of any planned visit.
Some applications may not be able to be progressed at this time. The council will consider a range of options available, including long-term extensions of time or withdrawal of the application altogether.
The preferred method of submission is by using the planning portal [opens in a new window] or by email to [email protected].
Applications submitted by hard copy may experience delay in processing.
Payment can be made on the methods of payment page.
As planning staff are currently working from home it would assist us greatly to continue providing a service if all submitted plans could include key dimensions. These may include heights/widths of proposals and distances away from boundaries.
All representations to planning applications should be made electronically, ideally through the Council's public access webpage, but if this is not possible then by email to [email protected].
The Council's protocol on the publicity of planning applications remains - we will send postal notifications to owners or occupiers of land adjacent to application sites.
This will include the provision of a site notice where relevant.
In addition to the statutory required publicity for applications, the public are encouraged to register with the Public Access System [external link].
In addition to searching, viewing and commenting on planning applications, these systems allow you to 'Track' Applications and 'Save Searches' please see the pdf document 'Public Access User Guide' available on the registration page.
Officers of the planning service will not be conducting face-to-face meetings until further notice. Officers are contactable via email and can make outgoing phone calls to any contact details provided.
Legislation came into force on 25 May 2019 which permanently extends the right for larger single storey rear extensions to be built under permitted development.
Previously such extensions which were deemed to be permitted development had to be completed by 30 May 2019. The legislation removes the date by which the larger extension must be completed, thereby making the right permanent. This also applies to those with prior approval who no longer have to complete the development by 30 May 2019, including where this is set out in a letter granting prior approval. Applicants are no longer required to notify the local planning authority that the development is complete.
Any such proposals will still be subject to the associated neighbour consultation scheme and this requires that the relevant Local Planning Authority is informed of the proposed work via a prior approval application.
For all such applications received from 19 August there will be a fee of £96.
Please see our planning fees and admin charges page
