The Government is in the process of introducing new arrangements to change the present practice as to what level documentation the Council should accept to comprise a valid planning application.
Presently as long as a planning application is made on the correct form, contains 3 copies of the relevant plans, the correct fee and land ownership declaration, the Council is normally obliged to accept this as comprising a valid application. However as from April 2008 the Government is looking to change the present arrangements.
The reasons behind the proposed changes are essentially to enable:
faster planning decisions to be made
more information to be available from the outset to communities who are likely to be affected by a proposed development
to achieve a raising in the quality of planning application submissions
The new arrangements will mean that different types of application will require varying types and levels of information to be submitted. Under the new arrangements, a national list of planning application requirements will set out the minimum statutory requirements for applications (without these documents an application will be deemed invalid). These requirements will be mandatory. They include the:
application form
ownership certificate
required fee
agricultural holdings certificate
design and access statement (where necessary)
location plan
other drawings and plans or information necessary to describe the subject
environmental statement (where necessary)
In addition, any local list produced by the Local Planning Authority may require additional information depending upon the complexity of the proposal and taking into account the location of a particular site. This can include requiring information to be submitted such as:
a flood risk assessment (for development likely to give rise to potential flooding issues)
draft Heads and Terms of a Section 106 Agreement (where development proposals are likely to require a legal agreement to be entered into in order for them to be acceptable)
a biodiversity assessment and report (where a development is likely to have an impact on ecology issues)
a Land contamination assessment (where a development is likely to lead to human health issues)
These are just a few examples of the types of information that may be required.
Taken together the national and local requirements will become known as the Validation Checklist. For further information see the proposed 'Validation of Planning Application' guidance on the Communities and Local Government website.
The District of Easington Council proposes to adopt a local list which has been agreed (in draft) with all other County Durham Local Planning Authorities. The list is available to view via the link in the 'Downloads' box to the right of this page and is also available for inspection at the Council Offices during normal office hours (8:30am to 5pm Monday -Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm Friday).
The Council is now undertaking a period of consultation on the draft list. Any comments received, as part of the consultation exercise will be duly considered before the Council considers the matter.
In order to be taken into account, any comments should be made, in writing by April 4th 2008 to either the email or postal address below.
For further information in relation to this matter please contact the Planning Services Unit on the via the telephone number below.
Name: Barry Gavillet
Telephone: 0191 527 0501
email: planning2@easington.gov.uk |
Address: Building 1, District of Easington, Council Offices, Seaside Lane, Easington, County Durham, SR8 3TN