Submitting an Application

While we are processing the application, we will not:

• Give progress updates on an application unless you have entered into a Planning Performance Agreement with the Council.
• Give advice on the likely outcome of the application.
• Enter into ad-hoc correspondence.
• Respond to neighbour comments or questions.
• Generally, accept revised plans or additional information. The only exception will be if we have specifically requested minor amendments. If we do need to ask for revised or further plans or information, we may ask for an extension to the statutory deadline for making a decision.

This approach applies to planning agents, applicants, or any third parties, including neighbours.

This process has been adopted to enable planning officers to focus on determining applications in order to provide an efficient and effective service.

When we will contact you

• We will contact you (or your agent) if we:
  • Need to ask for further information.
  • Think an amendment is needed to make your application acceptable, and it will not delay the application.
  • Think the decision is likely to go against pre-application advice and will give you the chance to amend or withdraw your application.
  • Think it will be necessary to agree an extension of time, in which case we will explain why.

When to contact us

You should only contact us about an application if you want to provide further information or need to ask us a specific question following a request from the case officer. Planning officers will not be available to discuss your application, and therefore you should not contact us to ask for a routine update on your application, as this will only delay the process. We will only respond to a request for an update if an application has passed its expiry date.

We will make a decision on your application as soon as possible, following standard procedures and policies.