You can download it by clicking this link here.

Once validated, the application will then be assigned to a Case Officer and your 8 weeks (ahem…) timetable for a decision begins. However, failure to provide the necessary information will delay the validation of the application and the submission will not go anywhere until the missing documents, detail, crossed ‘T’ or dotted ‘i’ are provided.

Enjoy reading through it over the Christmas break everyone!

IS THIS THE START OF THE PRIVATISATION OF THE PLANNING APPROVAL PROCESS… SURELY THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY A CRAZY IDEA?

THE PLANNING PORTAL CONTENT TEAM HAVE JUST ISSUED THE FOLLOWING NEWS:

“Planning minister Brandon Lewis has announced proposals to pilot competition in the processing of planning applications.

This move was signalled just past midnight on Tuesday in the Commons during the first session of the report stage of the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill.

Opposition MPs complained the plan would “weaken the accountability of local planning services” and risked undermining local planning departments.

The proposal to test whether planning could be speeded up if “alternative providers” handled planning applications is the subject of a number of amendments to the legislation proposed at the end of last year after the bill had completed its detailed scrutiny by a committee of MPs.

Lewis said the amendments would give the Secretary of State the power to introduce pilot schemes “for competition in the processing of applications for planning permission”.

The SoS would have the power to designate who could participate in a pilot which would be for “a limited period specified in regulations”.

He explained provisions in the bill would allow regulations to be made for the “setting, publishing and charging of fees by designated persons and planning authorities in the pilot areas, and for the refunding of fees in specific circumstances.

“They would also provide for the Secretary of State to intervene when he considers that excessive fees are being charged”.

The minister said regulations would be drawn up “to provide for the sharing of information between designated persons and planning authorities in pilot areas, and with the Secretary of State”.

Lewis stressed that the scheme would be confined to processing applications and would not mean competition in determining planning applications.

He told MPs: “Let me be clear: this is about competition for the processing of applications, not their determination.

“The democratic determination of planning applications by local planning authorities is a fundamental pillar of the planning system, and that will remain the case during any pilot schemes that the Secretary of State brings forward.”

Lewis insisted: “These new clauses will allow us to test, in specific areas of the country and for a limited period, the benefits of allowing planning applicants to choose who processes their planning application”.

He added: “That will lead to a more efficient and effective planning system, better able to secure the development of the homes and other facilities that our communities need and want.

“Introducing choice for the applicant enables them to shop around for the services that best meet their needs. It will enable innovation in service provision, bringing new resources into the planning system and driving down costs while improving performance.”

At the same session during the early hours of Wednesday (6 January) Lewis confirmed that  the Secretary of State’s scrutiny of appeals involving housing proposals in neighbourhood plan areas will continue for a further six months.”

http://www.waverley.gov.uk/downloads/download/1793/strategic_housing_land_availability_assessment_shlaa_2014

The report consists of several documents but one of the most interesting is Appendix 8 which contains a series of maps including the following around Farnham for instance. There are maps for Elstead, Tilford, Godalming, Witley, Cranfield, Chiddingfold and lots other small villages in the Greenbelt.

“Surrey Heath’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule was adopted by Full Council on the 16th July 2014. The CIL Charging Schedule will come into effect on the 1st December 2014.

This means that any applications determined on or after the 1st December 2014 may be CIL Liable.

From the 1st October 2014 the Planning Authority will therefore require all planning applications, including householder planning applications and applications for certificates of lawfulness, to be accompanied by CIL ‘Additional Information Requirement Form.’ If your application is for a major development, with a statutory determination period of 13 weeks, then it is advisable you submit this form before the 1st October 2014.

Where your proposal is CIL Liable it is in your interests and it is strongly recommended that you also submit CIL ‘Form 1: Assumption of Liability’ with your planning application.

Further information on CIL including the Charging Schedule and policy documents are available on the Council’s website. Downloadable forms will be made available and can also be obtained from the Planning Portal.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/applications/howtoapply/whattosubmit/cil

http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/planning/planningpolicyandconservation/CIL.htm

Validation of Planning Applications: Local Validation List and Guidance

At the Executive Committee on the 22nd July 2014 the Council revoked the 2008 Validation of Planning Applications Supplementary Planning Document and approved a new Local Validation List. This document was subject to an 8 week consultation between 14 April 2014 and 9 June 2014.

Please note that this document requires all plans and drawings to include a scale bar. Your planning application will be made invalid if not included.

A copy of this document is available on the Council’s website.

http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/planning/developmentmanagement/default.htm

If you require further information or clarification please email development.control@surreyheath.gov.uk”

The Planning Committee at the London Borough of Bromley last night approved Planning Permission for a two large new detached dwellings for our client Tkei Homes on a site adjacent to the Sundridge Avenue Conservation Area.

The Government have announced that as of May 30th 2013 for a period of 3 years that single storey rear extensions may be doubled in size. To take advantage of this a neighbour consultation period has been included for the ‘larger’ rear extensions and the local planning authority will take a view on whether the larger extensions are acceptable or not.

The deadline for completion of any larger extensions is 30th May 2016 – note, this is not a deadline to apply for one but for the completion of the work.

Read the Government’s draft guidance here: http://bit.ly/15vsvuT

Under the National Planning Policy Framework, issued in April 2012, local authorities are required to work out future housing needs in their area, and then allocate sufficient land to meet it – the aim of the government being to remove obstacles to the building of new houses, and to speed up planning decisions.

According to the BBC article Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF, said: “The increase is good news and hopefully a reflection of the positive planning principles of the new system. It is just one quarterly increase and we are still well short of the number needed but we hope it starts a trend that will continue in 2013. The new system must provide enough viable land to build the number of homes the country needs. Continuing the current low level of house-building is storing up huge social and economic problems for the years ahead and the shortfall must be addressed.”

Whether this trend will continue and we will finally see an longer term upswing in both granting of planning permission and, just as importantly, the translation of permissions in to actual built housing remains to be seen. Without increased supply then demand will continue unabated forcing prices still higher and driving more people out of the housing market.

It is simple economics – limited supply for a highly desired commodity leads to higher prices.