The Council seeks to determine applications within the statutory time periods set by the Government which are 8 weeks from receipt for most planning applications and 13 weeks for major schemes. As such the Council has limited scope to be able to accept amendments to applications once they have been submitted and prior to their determination. The Council therefore strongly encourages pre-application discussion to enable applications to be submitted in a form that is likely to be acceptable.
What the Council cannot accept as an amendment
Proposed amendments to schemes which significantly alter the character or description of the proposal will not be accepted. In these circumstances it will be necessary to submit a fresh application.
Amendments will be assessed on a case by case basis having regard to the overall size of the development. Proposed alterations which result in the following will require the submission of a fresh application and will therefore not be accepted as an amendment:
increase in application site boundary
increase in number of dwellings proposed
introduction of different uses
significant changes to the position of buildings
alterations which would require a new statutory notice to be displayed
amendments which do not seek to address concerns which have been identified by the Council
alterations which, if accepted, will prevent the application from being determined in the statutory time period
What the Council may accept as an amendment
reduction in the depth of a proposal to meet guidance
deletion /re-location of windows away from neighbours
obscure glazing to windows
relocation of /additional landscaped areas
additional detailed design changes
However, the above alterations will not be accepted if they prevent the planning application being determined within the statutory time period.
When and how the Council will re-consult on amended plans
In those situations where the Council does accept an amendment to the application all those properties originally notified of the application, and any other third parties who have commented on the proposal, will be informed of the receipt of amended plans and be given a further 14 days to make any additional representation. This will only take place if the amendments have a greater impact or raise issues which people need to be made aware of. Copies of the amended plans will be available to view on the Council’s website and at the Council’s Reception during normal opening hours.
The Council will not, however, re-notify these parties where the alterations reduce the scale and impact of the proposal. In assessing this the planning officer will consider if, by not notifying third parties of the receipt of amended plans, their interest would be unreasonably prejudiced. The Council would not, for example, normally re-advertise a proposal for an extension to a property where the amended plan sets it further back from the boundary or reduced the depth of its projection. The decision not to re-notify third parties of the receipt of amended plans will not affect the weight that will be given to any comments received in connection with the original application.
Contact details of the case officer dealing with the application are set out on the original letter notifying third parties of the receipt of the application, and on the letter referring to the receipt of amended plans. The case officer can also be contacted via the Council’s Customer Services Section - telephone 01784 451499.
