About the application process

Will you visit the site and neighbouring properties?

An officer of the council will visit an application site and typically take notes and/or pictures. As multiple site visits are carried out on one day, it is not always possible to pre-arrange a visit. If there is an issue with access to a site, please inform us at the point you submit an application. We do not typically visit neighbouring properties due to the time/access issues related to this.

What is the application process?

An application is checked to make sure everything has been submitted, then considered by a planning officer and finally a decision is made.

Will you let me know if my application is going to be approved or refused beforehand?

We won’t typically contact you during the determination process as a case officer can have more than 35 cases at a time. If a small change to a scheme is needed to make it acceptable however e.g. removing a window or reducing the size of an extension, we may contact you to ask to make this change. This needs to be resolved as soon as possible so the application can be decided in the agreed time. If a scheme is completely unacceptable, we may inform you of this but would not invite an opportunity to change the plans. However you can always submit a new application which overcomes the concerns or appeal against the decision.

What happens if my application is refused?

Look at the reasons why the application was refused which will be on the decision notice. You can always resubmit an application but it should show what changes you have made to address the issues that have been raised. Alternatively, you can appeal against the refusal. This means a separate government body, called The Planning Inspectorate, will consider the application again including the reasons why it has been refused. They will either allow the appeal and so you're development can go ahead or, dismiss it, and you will not be able to build your scheme. There is not a fee associated with an appeal but you need to submit everything within certain timescales; these are set out on the decision notice.

What information do I need to make a planning application?

A planning application will always need an application form and a community infrastructure levy form. In addition we need certain plans and these will likely include existing and proposed floor and elevation plans. Depending on where your site is or what you are proposing, we may require a survey on a tree for example. To find out more visit our how to submit a planning application page.

Why do I need a bat survey and when can they be done?

Bats are protected by European Law (it is not expected that Brexit will change this). When it comes to planning, we need to be certain that a development won't have a negative impact on bats that may be roosting in a house or tree. The best way to do this is having a qualified ecologist carry out a survey.

There are 2 main types of surveys: a preliminary roost assessment and a dawn/dusk emergence survey. 

The preliminary roost assessment typically involves an external and internal assessment of your property to see if there is any evidence of bats and can be carried out at any point in the year. It may be that it concludes there is no evidence of bats and you can then submit the survey with your planning application. 

However, it may say evidence has been found and an emergence survey is needed to understand exactly how bats are using the property. This typically involves an assessor watching to see if bats use the property at dawn/dusk and reporting on the findings. It can only be carried out during May, June, July or August so it is important you take this into account. If you need this survey, please do not submit your planning application to us until the survey is complete. Without it, we will have to refuse your application as we won't have sufficient information.