The volume of planning applications received has increased significantly and our current workload remains high.
We are sorry if you have experienced delays in determining applications.
We have started an improvement programme which will reduce the length of time you wait for a decision, and the number of cases each officer has in progress.
You can help this improvement work by only contacting us to provide information that we have requested from you - and please use our public access portal to track any applications we are processing or comment on an application.
This programme will last approximately six months, and you will notice some changes which are necessary for us to make the service better, including:
- When you submit an application for planning permission you might not get assigned a case officer straight away. As soon as an officer has the capacity to deal with your application it will be allocated to them, and you will be notified.
- We will be limiting opportunities for amendments to be made on applications for planning permission to reduce determination times. Where applications are contrary to local and national policy there may be no opportunities for amendment, and we will make that clear to you.
- Where applications are submitted with insufficient information at the point of validation, this can cause service delays. In some cases it has taken several months to receive the necessary information. We can no longer accept this way of working and we require you to submit all required information necessary on application. We will write to you where applications are submitted which require further information. We will clearly communicate what we need and set strict deadlines for you to submit this information.
You can report a breach of planning control online.
Biodiversity Net Gain - The way the planning system considers its impacts on biodiversity has changed.