Planning service standards: South Norfolk Council

To help you understand the service that you can expect from the planning teams in relation to the provision of advice prior to submitting a planning application, the determination of planning applications and post decision, we have set out below the service standards that we aim to deliver.

Officer conduct

Whenever and however people contact the council they can expect:

• Officers to give their name
• Officers to listen
• Officers to treat enquiries with dignity, courtesy and respect
• Officers to provide clear and concise information and to respond fully the first time
• Officers to provide information on what is being done to your enquiry and why
• Officers to treat you with respect and courtesy

Your conduct

The council would like anyone who approaches the council to:

• Treat staff with respect and courtesy
• Provide the information officers need to be able to respond and inform the council if it changes
• Let officers know if you cannot make an appointment

Enquiries and Pre Application Advice

The Council will answer enquiries and offer advice prior to submitting a planning application.

• We will do our best to answer your query over the phone or in our offices within a five minute conversation. If your query requires a more in depth review to be able to fully answer it; a written response, or a further meeting, then this may form part of the Council’s charged for service. Details of the timescales and charges are described in pre application planning advice: South Norfolk.
• Free advice is available if your enquiry relates only to the following:
  • Need for planning permission
  • Work to listed buildings
  • Protected trees

How the council will respond:

• Phone – Where it is not possible to answer your enquiry immediately we will aim to respond to phone messages within one working day
• Visit - If a home visit is needed because of disability we will arrange to visit you at a mutually convenient time and show council identification on arrival

Planning applications

When you submit a planning application we will aim to :

• Register, validate and acknowledge the applications within 4 days of receipt
• If the application is invalid and requires further information we shall notify you do so within 5 days of receipt of the additional information which is required to validate the application. Where this is not submitted within the requested timescale the application will be returned

Keeping you informed

For all planning applications, we will write to all immediate neighbouring properties to notify them of the application.

Where there is open land immediately adjacent to the application site we will also display a site notice unless the application is for householder devleopment. Where we are notified that the notice has been removed prior to the expiry of the 21 day consultation period, we will aim to display a replacement.

Notes:

Site notices will be placed on or near the site.

Major development is:
(i) erection of ten or more dwellings or housing development on a site of 0.5 hectare or more
(ii) erection of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created is 1,000m2 or more
(iii) development on a site of 1 hectare or more

The Council has discretion to identify and advertise other developments which are likely to be of wider concern

We will aim to publish all background documents submitted with an application and received during its consideration on the planning pages of the Council’s website SNC applications online as soon as practicable.

We will obscure areas of documents that relate to signatures, phone numbers or email addresses where these are published online. However, human error can occur and we may miss something. If you notice something that causes you concern, then please email us noting the application reference and document details and we will do our best to resolve the matter.

We will not consider representations which we consider contain offensive or defamatory remarks. In such circumstances, the representation will be returned and the author will be invited to submit representations which relate to the planning merits of the proposal.

Where amended details which materially alter the proposal are submitted during the consideration of the application, we will re consult properties that were notified of the application and other parties that have commented.

Details of all applications which have been submitted and determined are published on the council's website in the weekly lists.

You can also follow the progress of applications by registering on the planning system and “tracking” an application. Planning simple search

In addition you can use “My Area' to find applications near your property. 

Determination of applications

Once validated the application will be determined as quickly as possible, and before the expiry date in most instances

Where a decision is not possible before the expiry date, the officer will contact you to advise you of the likely time the application will take, the reasoning for this, and request agreement to an extension of time.

For each application there will be a report which assesses the application and considers comments received and provides an explanation for approving or refusing the proposal.

Planning Committee

Some applications will be decided by councillors. The Scheme of Delegation agreed by Full Council identifies which applications is found in the Council's Constitution.

More information on Development Management Committee including dates, and future and past papers can be found here: Development Management Committee

Information on who can speak at committee can be found at the front of the committee agenda papers. Development Management Committee Papers

When a decision has been taken we will issue a decision letter on the same day unless a planning obligation legal agreement remains to be signed.

Community Infrastructure levy

For developments which are liable for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), we will issue a CIL Liability notice to both the applicant and their agent within 1 day of the Planning decision.

We will assess any requests to review a liability notice within 14 days of receipt and notify you of our decision.

Where applicable, we will confirm any eligible application for relief within 5 working days of receipt

Following the issuing of a decision

We will only include conditions in a planning decision where they are necessary and will only require pre commencement conditions where it is not appropriate to require details after development has commenced.

Amendments to approved applications

Where a revision does not introduce elements which would require re consultations with neighbouring properties or consultees or change the policy considerations, the Local Planning Authority will consider the application as a Non Material Amendment. There will be no publicity or consultations on this type of application.

For more significant changes, it may be possible to vary the approved drawings condition or a new planning application may be required. These applications will be publicised as set out above and consultations undertaken.

Appeals

Appeals are dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate. The council will:

• Write to you to notify you of an appeal received if you were notified or commented on the appealed application
• Advise you how to make further comments and the timescales for submitting your comments.

Once the council has done this all further correspondence should be sent directly to the Planning Inspectorate. Information on appeals is available from the Planning Inspectorate

Planning Enforcement

If you complain about a breach of planning rules we will classify the urgency of this within a day. We will acknowledge within 5 working days and advise you of our decision within 25 working days.

Complaints

Service complaint;

If you are not happy with the service you have received we would like to know why as this is the best way to resolve the complaint and to improve our services. The council’s complaint, compliment and suggestion process can be found here: Compliments Suggestions Complaints

Where to find information

Our website aims to provide information to help you progress your enquiry as far as you can, both inside and outside of office working hours.

The website will;

• Provide information on whether planning permission is needed
• Identify these service standards, including pre-application advice
• Direct you on how to make an application
• Direct you on how to comment on an application
• Review current and emerging local planning policy
• Find information on conservation areas, listed buildings and tree preservation orders
• Advise how to report to Enforcement or make service complaints
• Provide links to other related services within the council.

How to contact the council

see details below: