BONDSTONES commitment to POSITIVE AND PROACTIVE WORKING
Bondstones are fully committed to working with Local Planning Authorities and case officers to ensure that proposals submitted meet and exceed development plan policy and material planning requirements. We ALWAYS seek to work with planning officers - in an effort to make their role as easy as possible. We always seek accompanied site visits with the relevant case officer - as this can address a multitude of questions and gives the applicant confidence that the LPA are giving the application proper consideration.
In recent years though, our team have observed a growing trend where, despite meeting national and local validation requirements, various requests for supplementary information are made by the LPA very late in the determination process. These are almost always accompanied by extension of time requests.
While we acknowledge that departments are under pressure and under resourced, these requests are often issued by email without formal structure and without acknowledgement of the burden / cost implication placed on the applicant.
Frustratingly, particularly since the COVID outbreak, these supplementary requests are often imprecise, incomplete or based without a policy basis or are simply immaterial to the application - this in turn results in unnecessary frustration and often substantial costs for our clients.
In recent years though, our team have observed a growing trend where, despite meeting national and local validation requirements, various requests for supplementary information are made by the LPA very late in the determination process. These are almost always accompanied by extension of time requests.
While we acknowledge that departments are under pressure and under resourced, these requests are often issued by email without formal structure and without acknowledgement of the burden / cost implication placed on the applicant.
Frustratingly, particularly since the COVID outbreak, these supplementary requests are often imprecise, incomplete or based without a policy basis or are simply immaterial to the application - this in turn results in unnecessary frustration and often substantial costs for our clients.
What the NPPF saYS
2 - Planning law requires that applications for planning permission be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions. Planning policies and decisions must also reflect relevant international obligations and statutory requirements.
38 - Local planning authorities should approach decisions on proposed development in a positive and creative way. They should use the full range of planning tools available, including brownfield registers and permission in principle, and work proactively with applicants to secure developments that will improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area. Decision-makers at every level should seek to approve applications for sustainable development where possible.
41 - ... For their role in the planning system to be effective and positive, statutory planning consultees will need to take the same early, pro-active approach, and provide advice in a timely manner throughout the development process. This assists local planning authorities in issuing timely decisions, helping to ensure that applicants do not experience unnecessary delays and costs.
38 - Local planning authorities should approach decisions on proposed development in a positive and creative way. They should use the full range of planning tools available, including brownfield registers and permission in principle, and work proactively with applicants to secure developments that will improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area. Decision-makers at every level should seek to approve applications for sustainable development where possible.
41 - ... For their role in the planning system to be effective and positive, statutory planning consultees will need to take the same early, pro-active approach, and provide advice in a timely manner throughout the development process. This assists local planning authorities in issuing timely decisions, helping to ensure that applicants do not experience unnecessary delays and costs.
Why have we created this portal?
We have created this planning tool to enable officers and (where appropriate) statutory consultees, to request additional information or clarification on live planning applications - so as to seek to eliminate unnecessary or unreasonable costs and delays for our clients. Where multiple requests are made this portal enables us to collate information effectively and to respond in a proactive, effective, timely and efficient manner.
After submitting a request for information through this portal, the case officer will receive confirmation of receipt by email (a PDF copy of the request attached) together with a summary response and details of our anticipated timeframe for delivery.
Where possible we will provide requested information by return.
However, where information will require third-party input or where it may be complex / time consuming to produce, we will propose an extension of time for consideration - to enable the information to be issued and consulted upon - as may be appropriate.
After submitting a request for information through this portal, the case officer will receive confirmation of receipt by email (a PDF copy of the request attached) together with a summary response and details of our anticipated timeframe for delivery.
Where possible we will provide requested information by return.
However, where information will require third-party input or where it may be complex / time consuming to produce, we will propose an extension of time for consideration - to enable the information to be issued and consulted upon - as may be appropriate.
