Agenda item

National Government Guidance required Local Planning Authorities to undertake a regular review of their validation requirements for planning applications. It was necessary to ensure that the list remained fit for purpose in the context of changes to National Legislation and Development Plan Policies.

The document set out the level of information required by the local planning authority to support a planning application and was intended to explain clearly what plans and documents were required as part of a planning application to ensure that the Council could make transparent, well informed and robust decisions on planning applications in the public interest.

The intention was to clearly define the minimum amount of information required for proper assessment of an application. Requirements were not intended to be onerous and information would only be requested when it was necessary to enable full and proper assessment of a proposal. 

The document was divided into two sections:

1.  National and standard requirements for all application types (including householder applications)

2.  Technical supporting statements/documents required for more complex applications (could be requested for householder applications if required, this will be determined on a case-by-case basis)

National requirements were set by Central Government and were consistent across all local planning authorities in England. These were set out on the Planning Portal. The local requirements must be prepared by each local planning authority and should be tailored to reflect the material planning considerations that were relevant for that area.

Planning legislation required that the local planning authority must review its local list every two years. As part of that process, the Council was required to consult on a draft local list and then formally publish the document, having taken any representations into consideration. A copy of the final local list must be made available on the Council’s website and the list must be subsequently reviewed every two years.

A formal six week consultation period had been undertaken which ended on 24^th September 2021. This comprised a consultation page on the Council’s website. An email was sent to regular agents to advise them of the consultation, a notice was published in the local press and notification text added to the planning application validation letter during that time.

The report set out the updated requirements and sought Members’ agreement to the updated document.

In response to a question, the Head of Development Management confirmed that there was a requirement to update the document every two years, although there were no barriers to updating more frequently if necessary.

Members noted that the purpose of the document was to set out the information required when planning applications were submitted.  Requirements around photographs had been strengthened.

It was further noted that details of the consultation process were set out in the report. In addition, the Head of Development Management confirmed that the majority of planning applications were submitted electronically.  Where applicants indicated that they would struggle with electronic submission, Officers worked to assist the applicant.  Electronic submission was not compulsory but encouraged as far as possible.  Members noted that there was a requirement that drawings were to scale but dimensions were also accepted.

In relation to telecommunications infrastructure and the rollout of the 5G network, the Committee noted that the Local List of Validation Requirements would only apply to those masts requiring planning permission.  All applications usually included a supporting statement which would provide the context of the provision of telecommunications masts. The Vice Chairman highlighted that the Council’s Digital Strategy would focus on the positioning of telecommunications masts across the Borough and that dialogue between the Council and various providers was ongoing.

Officers agreed to review the ways in which planning site notices could be made more prominent.  It was also agreed that future revisions to policy documents would be presented to the Committee with tracked changes clearly visible.

In response to a question from the Chairman concerning requirements for neighbour notifications, the Head of Development Management confirmed that there were different requirements for different applications.  As a bare minimum, there was a requirement to display site notices or send a letter to any adjoining neighbour.  It was noted that non-statutory notices had been reinstated as an additional layer of publicity.

RESOLVED: That the revised Local List of Validation Requirements be formally adopted.