Planning services - Coronavirus (Covid-19) update
The planning system will play an important role in helping the recovery of the economy. This may be through large scale commercial projects or proposals for individual families and households.
We are continuing to provide a development management (planning) service. Most of our staff are now home-based which has resulted in some changes to the way in which the service operates. With the situation constantly evolving we may need to make further changes over time. You should revisit this page for further updates.
Contacting the planning service
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.
Planning enforcement
Delivery restrictions update
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
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;
- meetings will only be held via telephone.
- No site visits will be conducted as part of the pre-application service.
Officers will be able to consider any photographs that are provided. Listing Building enquiries can be emailed to [email protected].
Site visits
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.
Submitting applications
The preferred method of submission is via 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.
Consultation responses
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].
Publicity and site notices
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.
Meetings
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.
