Getting planning permission can be a long, frustrating and at times confusing process. Mosaic’s Paul Williams article shines some much needed light on the labyrinthine world of planning. The unabridged version can be found at Mosaic well worth a read.
7 Ways To Speed Up Your Planning Decision
If you regularly interact with the planning system, you will know how frustratingly slow it can be to obtain a response of any sort, let alone a decision. Whilst there will always be the potential for the unexpected to blow you off course, there are ways in which you can minimise the scope for delay.
1. Pre-application discussions
Dialogue with the Council is almost always desirable before submitting a planning application. This may make you aware of matters which could easily be addressed in the initial application which can save valuable time and minimise the chances of delay.
2. Review the validation checklist
The 8 or 13 week determination period will not begin until the Council has received what it considers to be a valid application. If any corrections or new documents are required this will push the start date back.
3. Monitor the validation process
Check that your application has been received. Planning portal is not infallible, even if you have received a receipt!
If you then have to instigate a new report, the time lost can be critical.
4. Maintain contact with the case officer
There can be a fine balance between keeping in touch to ensure application progress and becoming a nuisance. The correct approach will depend on the scale and complexity of the project and the personalities involved.
5. Don’t wait to be asked to respond to objections
Most Council now provide consultation responses online. Case officers have an unfortunate habit of not asking for your response until the committee report is due to be written, by which time it may be too late.
6. Negotiate legal agreements
Agreeing the Heads of Terms can mean little until the various sets of solicitors have produced the final document.
Depending on the circumstances it may be worth submitting a unilateral undertaking for what you are willing to offer if you are working to a tight timetable.
7. Finally – obtain some professional advice!
Whether you need professional help will obviously depend on your own level of experience the scale of the project and your workload. Discussing your situation with a professional maybe the biggest time saver if you could possibly make. Doing so puts you under no obligation.
