Planning

We’re working hard to protect our residents, staff and services and respond to the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation.

See the Councils' response to COVID-19. 

All planning applications, correspondence and payments should now be submitted electronically.

Our phone lines are open and staff are taking phone calls between 9am and 5pm. Email responses may be sent outside of usual working hours and staff are working flexibly in order to safeguard the service and in order to manage the demand we place on IT capacity at the present time.

We will continue to validate Applications and expect to commence consultation and publicity.

We are looking to prioritise decision making using innovative approaches as need be where this will support the local economy. We will work with applicants and others proactively to agree extensions of time for decision making.

In the current circumstances we are suspending the displaying of site notices and will be undertaking publicity by neighbour notification letter and website publication only, as an interim measure, in order to continue to safeguard public transparency. We will be continuing to publicise applications in the East Anglian Daily Times and on our website in the usual way.

We are reviewing all of those cases that would normally be reported to planning committees and will be taking a case by case approach. We are considering whether we may need to arrange virtual committee meetings and information regarding future arrangements will be made available on the Councils' website in due course.

At the current time we are unable to offer face to face meetings as part of the Pre-Application Advice Service, but we are able to offer audio, video or web conferencing service as an alternative where appropriate.

Important notice regarding the relaxation of delivery and construction hours previously restricted by planning condition

On Friday 13th March, the government published a written ministerial statement which urged planning authorities to apply pragmatism to the enforcement on restrictions on food and other essential deliveries at this time. Local planning authorities should also use their discretion on the enforcement of other planning conditions which hinder the effective response to Covid 19.

The government followed this with a new written ministerial statement on Wednesday 13th May 2020 regarding planning and construction working hours. This statement expects local planning authorities to approve requests to extend construction working hours temporarily to ensure safe working in line with social distancing guidelines until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, unless there are very compelling reasons against this.

To seek agreement from the Planning Authority to change delivery or construction working hours please complete the form below. We will endeavour to respond within 10 days.

Apply to change delivery or construction working hours

This message was last updated W/C 1st June 2020.

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Please be advised our Pre-Application Fees and Services have changed.