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Planning consultations

Proposed Local Listed Building Consent Order Consultation

This consultation has now closed.

For more information - please visit our Local Listed Building Consent Order - Windows webpage.

Statement of Community Involvement Consultation

Updated position

We have considered carefully the outcomes of the consultation and discussed the findings with our Planning Cabinet Members who take a very close interest in how we engage with the public in planning matters. We are aware that there are expectations on the services we provide however, the ongoing financial challenges we face mean we must continue to scrutinise these options.

We have not agreed our position but we are continuing to look carefully at how we publicise particular planning application types.

Background to the consultation

The consultation concerns a proposal to stop sending letters to neighbours for certain types of planning application - as most of the comments we receive from neighbours are received electronically.

There is a statutory requirement that we notify neighbouring residents about a planning application by sending them a letter, or by placing a site notice on display in the relevant location.

Currently, we go above and beyond this as we do both.

Consultation FAQs

Can you explain the purpose of this consultation?

We need our services to run in the most effective way possible, whilst prioritising our spending.

We are proposing to stop sending neighbour letters to let people know about certain types of planning applications being considered in their community and we need to know what people think of this.

What type of planning applications will be affected?

We will still send letters where the planning application involves 10 or more homes (Major applications) but not for other types. These are:

Minor applications which are developments of between 1 and 9 homes
Householder applications, which include extensions, loft conversions, doors and windows, fences, gates and garden walls or outbuildings
Others, which include Listed Building Consents, changes of use, advertisements

Why are you considering these changes?

There are two reasons.

The first reason is we don’t think this approach is especially efficient. For instance in the financial year 2023/24, we sent 22,515 letters and we only received 1,352 replies. This is a 6% response rate which is very low. The bulk of our neighbour comments are coming electronically.

The second reason is the cost. We spend £2.80 on each letter (this includes not only postage but officer time to prepare the letters, envelope cost, printing etc). If we look at how many letters we sent in the financial year 2023/24, the cost to us was £63,042. We don’t think this is the best way for people to know about planning applications in their area and we don’t think this provides value for money for our council taxpayers.

I thought you had to notify people affected by new developments.

Our current ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ requires us to let people know, by posting letters to neighbours whose boundary is closest the site and by placing a notice on site. We must also advertise certain new planning applications in the local press. What the Council does exceeds the statutory duty.

We do inform our Town and Parish Councils; their meetings tend to have an item on their Agenda to discuss local planning matters and members of the public can attend to provide their views.

We also have a Public Access webpage people can access on their computer, mobile phone or tablet device. This online system tells people about applications in their areas as well as allowing them to submit their comments or find historical applications. Our experience is that use of this system is increasing year on year, with more than 1.5 million searches being done in 2024 alone.

If you send me a letter, do I have to reply?

No, the letter simply tells you what is being proposed. It also explains where you can get more answers and how to tell us what you think. It doesn’t make your comments any more important than anyone else’s.

Most smaller scale development tends to be straightforward. Often it won’t have a big impact on neighbours so some people may very well receive our letters but decide there is nothing they want to say.

I don’t have a computer, so I won’t be able to access your system

We know that people without a computer will not be able to access our Public Access system and this will place them at a disadvantage over people who do have a computer. You can however use the Public Access system on most modern mobile phone and tablet devices. You can also use computers at most libraries to access our planning system.

The Planning department is also keen to support anyone to use our Public Access system. Please contact us at planning@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk or call us on 0300 123 4000 (option 5 then option 3).

Should you need to discuss any part of this consultation please contact:

David Clarke - Service Improvement Advisor (Sustainable Communities)
Email: david.clarke@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk
Mobile: 07799 515774

Joint Local Validation List Consultation

Monday 22 January 2024 to Monday 4 March 2024

There are two LVL documents, one for Householder applications and one for Major and Minor applications. The Householder draft LVL is largely unaltered, with the exception of a new requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

The main new matters covered by the LVL for Minor and Major applications are:

Building for a healthy life - Wellbeing Impact Assessment
Biodiversity Net Gain
Flood Risk Assessment for some Minor applications

In addition, the following have been added. Validation details are now required for:

Intensive livestock and poultry farming
Rural Workers’ dwellings
Employment land within the Strategic Corridors
Tourist accommodation
Water supply management
Water resources and infrastructure
Town centre uses

Some applications will now require the following:

Safe, sustainable and active travel compliance
Transport statements and assessments
Transport Network Noise Assessment

Have your say

The consultation is now closed.