Issue - meetings

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

The report summarised the Borough Council’s obligations in respect of the validation of planning applications, together with associated submissions, and made recommendations for local requirements to provide clarity on what information should be submitted to make an application valid.

The adoption of a Local Validation Requirement List (LVRL) would enable the Council to seek the provision of information over and above the submission of application forms, certificates of ownership and plans.   A LVRL, drafted in accordance with national guidance and comprising a matrix setting out validation requirements, was attached as Annex 1 to the report for consideration.

Concern was expressed that the average homeowner could find the validation requirements complicated.  It was proposed that an Executive Summary setting out the basic steps be prepared to simplify the process for inexperienced applicants.

It was also suggested that a general disclaimer ‘reserving the right to request additional information’ be included to enable Planning Officers to pursue extra material outside of the validation requirements. 

Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure resolved that:

The Local Validation Requirement List, attached as Annex 1 to the report, be adopted with effect from 14 September 2016; subject to minor amendments regarding an Executive Summary and general disclaimer statement as set out above.

Decision Notice D160059MEM

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health summarised the Borough Council’s obligations in respect of the validation of planning applications, together with associated submissions, and made recommendations for local requirements to provide clarity on what information should be submitted to make an application valid.

It was reported that the adoption of a Local Validation Requirement List (LVRL) would enable the Council to seek the provision of information over and above the submission of application forms, certificates of ownership and plans.   A LVRL, drafted in accordance with national guidance and comprising a matrix setting out validation requirements, was attached as Annex 1 to the report for consideration.

Whilst Members supported the introduction of local requirements, concern was expressed that the average homeowner could find the validation list complicated and be unsure which document applied to which type of application.  It was proposed that an Executive Summary setting out the basic steps be prepared to simplify the process for inexperienced applicants.

It was also suggested that a general disclaimer ‘reserving the right to request additional information’ be included to enable Planning Officers to pursue extra material outside the validation requirements.

Particular reference was made to proposals for contaminated land assessments and whether there was any merit in having a validation of remediation step independent from the validation of application.  In response, Members were advised that this stage was an ‘in principle’ validation and should highlight whether there were any potential serious concerns to be followed up regarding contaminated land.

RECOMMENDED: That the Local Validation Requirement List, attached as Annex 1 to the report, be adopted with effect from 14 September 2016; subject to minor amendments regarding an Executive Summary and general disclaimer statement as set out above.