Duty Planning Officer
Telephone: 01449
724612
Email:
planningadmin@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Fax: 01449 724549
Please see our
contacts page if you need to contact a specific member of the
Planning Team.
The Frequently Asked Questions cover the following areas (click
to go to that area):
Q: How do I find out if I need to apply for planning
permission?
A: To find out if you need planning
permission the best course of action is to write to the Planning
Department at your local council and describe to them in as much
detail as possible the development you are thinking of carrying
out. It is very helpful if you could supply sketched plans of your
proposal with dimensions. There is also a leaflet available called
“Planning. A Guide for Householders” which gives rough guideline
about when planning consent is required. We offer a full
pre-application service and encourage those thinking of applying to
contact us for advice and guidance prior to applying.
Q: How do I apply for planning
permission?
A: To apply for planning permission
you need to fill out four copies of the relevant application forms
(available from Mid Suffolk or Customer Service Direct) and supply four copies
of a site location plan with the site outlined in red (again, we
can supply these but there is a charge of £23.50). You will also
need to supply four copies of all relevant plans, elevations etc to
adequately show the proposed development. All plans must be drawn
to scale.
Please note that this process is
likely to change with the advent of the 1APP standard planning
application form. For further information on this please go to
www.planningportal.gov.uk/1app
Q: Are there different types
of planning application?
A: Yes, planning applications cover a
wide variety of developments. Applications can be made for Outline
Permission, Full Permission, Listed Building Consent, Lawful
Development Certificates and many more.
Q: How do I get advice on
filling in my application forms?
A: You can either call or pop into Mid
Suffolk reception where staff will be pleased to help you complete
your application forms.
This process will also be affected by
the advent of the 1APP standard planning application form. Council
planning staff will be please to offer any assistance they can to
those requiring help filling in their forms.
Q: Are appointments needed to
speak to a Planning Officer?
A: Mid Suffolk Planning Department
currently operate a duty officer system. For this there is no need
to make an appointment. The duty officer is able to offer general
advice and guidance. They will be unable to give site-specific
advice or comments, however they can arrange pre-application advice
for specific sites.
During the progress of an application,
when you know which officer is dealing with this, it may be
necessary to arrange appointments to speak to this officer.
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Q: What are the application fees?
A: As a rough guide a household
application for an extension or a conservatory would usually cost
£135.00. An application to build a complete new dwelling would
normally cost £265.00. However before submitting an application it
is wise to check with the local planning department if you are
unsure.
Q: How long will it take for
my application to be determined?
A: Applications for extensions,
conservatories and new dwellings etc usually take 8 weeks to be
determined. Major applications take 13 weeks. Major applications
are for ten or more dwellings or larger scale commercial
development.
Q: Will you inspect my
property or site?
A: Yes it is normal practice for the
Case Officer to visit to your site to assess how the proposed
development would impact on the area. We aim to undertake the visit
within the first four weeks of the application.
Q: How do I find out the
status of my application?
A: You can use our web based search
system which will give you key dates such as Date Received, the
Expiry Date (i.e. the date a decision should be made by), the date
that consultations were sent out etc. For more specific guidance on
how the application is going you will need to speak to
Customer Service Direct in the first instance.
If they are unable to deal with a detailed issue you will be
advised to speak to the case officer.
Q: I live in a listed
building, are there any special procedures I need to
follow?
A: Yes. Listed Buildings are protected
by law. Any changes to the inside or outside of a listed building
require “Listed Building Consent” from the local planning
authority. If you live in a listed building and are thinking of
undertaking any sort of work to your home please contact Mid
Suffolk Planning Department for advice.
Q: What is Listed Building
Consent?
A: Listed Building Consent is the term
used for the process used to control development and work
undertaken on Listed Buildings.
Q: How do I apply for Listed
Building Consent?
A: The method is very similar to
applying for planning permission. A set of application forms is
available from Mid Suffolk or Customer Service Direct. Three forms must be
submitted along with three copies of scaled drawings and plans
showing clearly the work or development proposed to the listed
building.
There is no fee for applying for
Listed Building Consent.
PLEASE NOTE: In many cases both Listed
Building Consent AND Planning Permission may be required. Please
contact your local planning authority for advice.
Any development undertaken to a
Listed Building without consent could lead to criminal
prosecution.
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Q: Can I make a comment on a
planning application?
A: Yes you are entitled to comment on
planning applications. Although the comments made must be relevant
to the application. We may also have to take into account the
likely impact the development will have on your amenity. For
instance, we would be unable to take your comments into account if
you had objected to an application for a small extension to a
property if your own property was not situated close to the
application site. We have had to introduce this policy due to
prevent spurious objections.
Q: How do I make a comment on
a planning application?
A: The comment you make must be made
in writing to the local planning department. It must contain your
name and address. Anonymous comments will not be taken into
consideration. Your comments would be placed on the application
file and will be available for public viewing. You can submit these
either by email or by post.
Q: What do you take into consideration?
A: The local planning department will
take comments into consideration that pertain to planning matters
such as the effect the proposal will have on the area, the number
of extra cars using a road etc. It is difficult to define exactly
what is and what is not a “Material Planning Consideration”, as
different proposals will have different considerations. However
issues such as covenants, competition and adverse impact on
property prices are not relevant and would not be taken into
consideration.
Q: How long do I have to make
a comment?
A: If you received a letter from the
council informing you of a planning application the letter will
state a date by which you should respond. If you have seen a Yellow
Site Notice you should respond within 21days from the date written
on the site notice. However the planning department will consider
all letters of representation up until a decision is made.
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Q: Can I have copies of the
plans from an application?
A: If the application is live and has
not had a decision issued you can. There would be a fee for
this.
Applications submitted since 1st
December 2005 have been scanned and the application forms, plans
and any supporting documents are available online. It is possible
to download this information for consultation purposes, subject to
strict criteria.
If the application has been decided then, because of copyright
laws, you would have to provide us with a notice of permission from
the creator of the drawings before we could copy these.
Q: Can I have a copy of the
location plan from an application?
A: As with plans we can copy location
plans when the application is live. After a decision is made we
cannot copy these.
Q: Do you charge for copies of
documents?
A: In some cases we do charge for
copies of documents. This depends on the size of the documents
being copied. As a general rule single A4 copies would not incur a
charge.
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Q: I want
to make a change to my planning application. Is this
ok?
A: Once an application is submitted it
is not normally acceptable to make major changes to the
application. However by discussing the matter with the relevant
case officer you may be able to make some very minor alterations to
the application. Where they do not affect neighbours or the visual
impact of the proposal. Most changes will require a fresh
application.
Q: Can I change the details of
my planning permission after it is decided?
A: It is possible to make minor
amendments to planning permission after a decision has been made.
However you need to write to the planning officer who determined
the original application to see if the change can be treated as a
minor amendment or whether you need to submit a new application.
When writing to the officer you will need to specify clearly what
the changes are and supply plans to show these changes.
Q: Will anyone be consulted on
these changes?
A: In the case where a change is
agreed to a live application before a decision has been reached
then it is likely that the consultation process will have to be
carried out. If the change is classed as a minor amendment to an
existing decision then no consultation process will be carried out
as we would deem the changes to be so slight as not to need further
consultation.
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Q: Can I appeal against the
decision made by the planning officer?
A: Yes. An applicant has the right to
appeal against a refusal issued by the local planning office.
Q: Can I appeal against a
condition within my planning consent?
A: Yes. An applicant has the right to
appeal against a condition laid down in a planning permission.
Q: How do I
appeal?
A: To appeal you need to contact the
Planning Inspectorate:
The Planning Inspectorate
Customer Support Unit
Room 3/01 Kite Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6PN
Telephone: 0117 372 6372
Fax: 0117 372 8782
Website: www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk
Q: How long do I have to make
an appeal?
A: Any appeal must be made within six
months of the decision being made.
Q: Can I appeal against
someone else’s planning permission?
A: No. Only the applicant or an agent
working on behalf of the applicant can make an appeal against the
decision. There is no right of appeal for any other parties.
Q: Who makes the final
decision on an appeal?
A: The Planning Inspectorate will
appoint an independent Inspector who will ultimately decide on the
outcome of the appeal. A decision letter will be issued by the
Planning Inspectorate a copy of which will be sent to the appellant
and a copy sent to the planning department. The decision will
either be a dismissal (e.g. permission refused) or an approval (e.g
permission allowed with conditions).
Q: Is there a fee involved
with making an appeal?
A: No. No fee is charged to make an
appeal, unless it relates to an enforcement matter.
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Q: What is Planning
Enforcement?
A: Planning Enforcement is the service
that monitors and investigates “breaches of planning control”. This
means that they will investigate complaints about development being
carried out without the appropriate permission or developments
being carried out which do not conform to the conditions laid down
in the planning permission granted. Planning Enforcement also have
powers to investigate complaints involving special controls such as
listed buildings, trees, hedgerows and advertisements.
Q: What action can Planning
Enforcement take?
A: The majority of action that
Planning Enforcement takes regards investigations of complaints to
evaluate the extent of the problem. If it is determined that there
is a problem Planning Enforcement will contact all necessary
parties to inform them of the problem and the action that should be
taken. Planning Enforcement has powers to serve Formal Notices to
control development. Planning Enforcement can request that a
Retrospective planning application is submitted. They may also
decide that although there may be a breach it does not warrant any
further action.
Q: Can you investigate untidy
sites?
A: Yes, Planning Enforcement can
investigate untidy sites and assess safety and other issues.
However Planning Enforcement does not cover issues regarding
unkempt or untidy gardens.
Q: How do I complain to
Planning Enforcement?
A: You can complain in writing to
Planning Enforcement, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Suffolk. Or
by telephoning Customer Service Direct on 0844
8000101.
Q: Can I remain
anonymous?
A: Your name and address will remain
confidential and will never be publicised. We prefer not to take
anonymous complaints as we cannot then contact you to let you know
the results of our investigation, we also ask for name and address
to deter malicious complaints.
We will at all times preserve to
anonymity of any complainant.
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Q: Who controls outdoor
advertisements?
A: The local planning authority is
responsible for the day to day operation of the advertisement
control system and for deciding whether a particular advertisement
should be permitted of not.
Q: What is classed as an
“advertisement”?
A: The advertisement control system
covers a very wide range of advertisements and signs including;
- Posters and
Notices
- Placard and Boards
- Fascia Signs and
Projecting Signs
- Pole Signs and Canopy
Signs
Q: How do I find out if
permission is required for an advertisement?
A: We can supply a booklet called
“Outdoor Advertisement and Signs. A Guide for Advertisers” which
gives the broad outlines of the Advertisement control system. For a
definitive answer it is best to write to the local planning
authority.
Q: How do I obtain
Advertisement Consent?
A: To obtain consent you need to apply
to the planning authority for the area where the advert of sign is
to be displayed. You can obtain application forms from Mid Suffolk
or Customer Service Direct. You will need to pay a
fee and submit four copies of application forms, scaled plans
etc.
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Q: What is an Agricultural
Building Order/Prior Notification?
A: This is a method of notifying the
planning authority of your intention to carry out Agricultural
work/development. The planning authority then determine whether
this work is classed as “permitted development”, or whether a
planning application needs to be made. These notifications do not
cover work or development which has already been carried out.
Q: Who can submit an
Agricultural Order/Prior Notification?
A: An agricultural trade or business
can use these. This method of application is not relevant to hobby
farms, domestic or recreational agricultural activities.
Q: How long will it take to
make a decision on a Agricultural Buildings Order?
A: The time frame set down by the
government for this type of application is 28days.
Q: How much does it cost to
submit an Agricultural Building Order/Prior
Notification?
A: The fee is currently £50.00
Q: Can I appeal against the
decision made by the Planning Authority regarding my Agricultural
Building Order/Prior Notification?
A: There is no right of appeal at this
stage, the right of appeal refers only to any subsequent planning
application made.
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Q: Am I at risk from
flooding?
A: The Environment Agency’s (EA)
indicative floodplain maps provide a general overview of areas of
land in natural floodplains that are at risk of flooding from
rivers, streams or the sea. However, these maps do not cover
flooding from other sources such as groundwater flooding, road
drains, run-off from hillsides or sewer overflows, as this type of
flooding can occur almost anywhere depending on the pattern of the
rainfall. The maps indicate the risk of flooding within the natural
floodplain and do not take account of protection provided by flood
defences.
The maps are available from EA on 0845 988 1188 or on their website
www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Q: Where can I find out about
the Mid Suffolk Local Plan?
A: Our website has a range of details
on the Local Plan. Visit
www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/policy/.
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