Planning Applications - a few facts

The Town and Country Planning Acts, which I believe started in the 1940s, have determined the rules for the development of our communities since that time.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 remains in force as the principal planning act in England and Wales.

The basic rules and regulations have not changed and I will go through a couple of them for the enlightenment of a number of our Town Councillors, who do not seem to understand them.

You can apply for planning permission on land you do not own providing you serve formal notice on the owner of the land. The planning permission is attached to the land and can normally be implemented by anyone, (provided they own the land) not necessarily the person who has applied for planning permission in the first place.

YOU CANNOT OBTAIN PLANNING PERMISSION AND HOLD IT SO THAT NO-ONE ELSE CAN DEVELOP THE LAND.

If you apply for outline planning permission, with all matters reserved the proposal should be described as accurately but as concisely as possible.

"Outline application for a health centre, sports pitches, changing facilities, with car parking, relocation of allotments, travelling show peoples site, woodland, meadowland and children's play area"

Details of all of the buildings proposed must be shown. Where more than one use class is proposed as part of any development, floor space should be specified for each separate planning unit (by Use Class).

If you then obtain outline planning permission

YOU CANNOT DO WHAT YOU LIKE WITH IT AND CHANGE IT ALL.

A detailed planning application following from an outline planning permission merely firms up on the principles already established and provides detailed plans of the buildings, with detailed dimensions, building materials etc etc. If you want something totally different you go back to outline and start again.

You have no rights over the land if you do not own it and have no say in what the owner does with the land. You have no right to claim from the owners monies you have spent on obtaining the planning permission.

Undeveloped land which has gained the benefit of any planning permission, is worth substantially more as a result.

The above details are not an opinion they are FACTS.