Important Announcements and Notices

PORTFOLIO SUPPORT GROUP (PLANNING POLICY)

Date: 21st January 2013

The Council wants to give residents an opportunity to watch planning policy taking shape and therefore some of the meetings which help to shape planning policy are being made open to the public. The first of these is a meeting of a group which exists to inform the Portfolio Holder (the cabinet member, currently Cllr Brian Robinson) on 21st January 2013. The group discusses a wide range of issues and one which is on the agenda for the 21st January is that of wind turbines. A background discussion note has been prepared for Councillors and is available here : Portfolio Support Group
 

CHANGES TO PLANNING FEES

Please read the following letter regarding the Government's forthcoming increase to the planning fees: Changes to Planning Fees Please see the attached link to view the revised fees: Revised Planning Fees 2012 Planning applications that are submitted to the Council prior to the 22nd November 2012 and are found to be invalid will need to pay the revised fee if the requested information to validate is received after the 21st November 2012.

INFORMATION REQUIRED WHEN SUBMITTING PLANNING APPICATIONS

As part of the move towards electronic communication and in particular the utilisation of the Planning Portal the council has reviewed how it processes the submission of planning applications. The council’s preferred means of submission is directly via the Planning Portal. This has significant benefits for applicants, meaning that no paper forms and plans are required, saving time and money. The system also enables the council to administer the processing of the applications in a more efficient way in that all consultations are sent electronically .
Should an applicant prefer to make a paper submission the council will now only require two sets of the forms and accompanying plans/documents.
However, the council will still require a minimum of three sets for applications of a large scale (i.e. housing developments of 5 or more dwellings). It is also helpful to provide CD’s containing the application details for Major applications to ease the consultation process.
 

PUBLIC NOTICE

Date: 19/09/2012 

As a consequence of the high level of representations received for the applications below, you are advised that the web site will provide information regarding when the applications will be considered by Planning Committee, and upon determination of the applications the Council will post a notification of the decision on its web site.

Reference: P1049/12/FUL

Land At Yartleton Lane May Hill Longhope

Erection of a dwelling with associated landscaping, works to existing pig cots and Bracken Barn and new access.

Reference: P1135/12/OUT

Land At Steam Mills Road Cinderford

Outline application for development of site to provide a retail store of up to 4,645 sq. m. gross internal floor area (including ancillary uses) (Use Class A1), recycling centre, associated accesses off Steam Mills Road and "estates road", car parking and landscaping. (Resubmission).

Development Control Committee Name Change

Please note that a proposal was agreed at Full Council on the 26/4/12 to change the name of the Development Control Committee. With immediate effect the Development Control Committee will now be called the Planning Committee.
 

AGENTS’ FORUM

Please click on the following links to read the notes from the March Agent's Forum: Agents Forum Action Notes March and Forest of Dean Core Strategy 

REQUESTS FOR CONFIRMATION THAT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ARE PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

The Planning department receive requests seeking confirmation as to whether development proposals such as conservatories, extensions to houses, installation of solar panels, new accesses and changes of use require planning permission. Section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended) makes provision for the submission of a Certificate of Lawfulness application which enables the Council to give a formal determination as to whether a proposal is permitted development. The Council consider that this is the appropriate means of addressing such enquiries and as such will no longer address permitted development enquiries unless submitted as a Section 192 application. There is a small fee payable for such applications and further details and forms can be found within the validation checklist and 1App forms on the Council’s website.General advice on permitted development is available on the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov.uk) 17 November 2011
 

CHANGES TO THE PLANNING RULES REGARDING DEMOLITION

The Department of for Communities and Local Government have announced changes to the way the planning system deals with demolition. Previously only dwellings or buildings adjoining dwellings had to submit an application to the council for Prior Approval for Demolition when the works were not already the subject of a planning permission. The need for a Prior Approval for Demolition for works without the benefit of a planning permission has been expanded and now includes in addition to a dwellinghouse or building adjoining dwellinghouse the following:

a) Any building which is a listed building
b) Any building in a conservation area
c) Any building which is a scheduled monument
d) Any building other than a dwelling house or a building adjoining a dwellinghouse

There are two exclusions from the above:

e) Any building with a cubic content, measured externally that does not exceed 50 cubic metres
f) The whole or any part of any gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure

The relevant application forms can be obtained through the Council’s web site or directly from the Planning Portal. The fee for such an application is currently £80. For more information you may wish to view the letter from the Department for Communities and Local Government dated 31 March 2011, a copy of which is attached. Demolition
  

NOTICE OF CHANGE TO PLANNING DUTY OFFICER SYSTEM
 

As part of the lean systems review of how the planning service operates an evaluation of the role and performance of the planning duty officer has been undertaken. This service is designed to offer assistance to members of the public who wish to obtain general planning advice either by calling into the office or by telephone. The current arrangements have significant resource implications and limit the ability of professional staff to undertake their key tasks in processing actual planning applications.From the 18th April the Development Control Section intends to amend the times when professional officers are available to answer general enquiries via telephone or via meetings without an appointment in reception.
It is important to note that Planning Agents or members of the public can still make specific appointments if they wish to see a particular planning officer.

AMENDED HOURS FROM 18 APRIL 2011

Officers will be available between 9:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday.
 

Coal Authority

Information for use by Local Authorities and Developers has now been published.

• Coal Mining Development Referral Area Plans (if relevant) divides the coalfield into two distinct areas to illustrate where The Coal Authority records indicate the existence of risks from past coal mining and also those areas which are on the coalfield but do not constitute a risk and are subject to Standing Advice.
• Surface Coal Resource Plans (if relevant) illustrate the areas which contain coal which could be extracted by surface mining methods.

To access this information simply select your LPA from the drop down list on the following page: http://www.coal.gov.uk/services/planning/development-management-strategy.cfm
The Coal Authority will be publishing further coal related information in due course to assist Local Authorities, applicants/developers and the general public to become more aware of the current coal related issues.
For further information contact The Coal Authority Planning Department on 01623 637 119 or planningconsultation@coal.gov.uk
  

Important Changes to Planning Legislation

The Government have introduced a whole range of changes to the Planning System which will effect how Development Control is administered in the District. Please click on the following link to view the recent changes to Planning Legislation: GPDO Changes Notice of amendment to planning application fees. The government have announced on Friday 19th February 2010 revisions to the fees regulations relating to the new types of planning applications introduced last year.

Non Material Changes to Planning Permissions:

£25 Householder
£170 All other types

Applications for a grant of a replacement planning permission subject to a new time limit.

Householder: £50
Major development: £500
Any other case: £170

Please see Revised Planning Fees 2012 

Subject to parliamentary approval these changes came into force on the 26th February 2010. 

For further information regarding this topic, please click on the following links: Draft Statutory Instruments   Explanatory Memo