Validation of Applications

We have a current backlog at Planning North at the validation stage, resulting in approximately 6 weeks of delay. To address this, we’ve initiated a project to clear the backlog over a focused two-week period starting July 9 2024. While this may cause minor delays in other area teams, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to get everything back on track.

Thank you for your patience during the recent maintenance period.

Development Management update

We have issued (applications and pre application responses from 1 June 2024 to 25 June 2024):

• North: 122 cases
• East: 159 cases
• South: 250 cases
• West: 119 cases
• Minerals and Waste: 11 cases

There are still significant backlogs in respect of Phosphate applications so further maintenance breaks may be necessary in the future.

We are currently experiencing some delays in validating applications – this is largely as a result of the scale of BNG applications being received and reduced staffing in some areas – we are in the process of recruiting to address this issue.

Active or recent applications

If you have submitted or are involved with a current application and you are the applicant, agent or a statutory consultee, you will get a reply to any emails you send us. You can expect to hear back from us within 10 working days.

For interested parties, please note we do not correspond about planning cases, but you can comment on a case directly through our website.

To submit or view planning comments, use our online planning system. You can find out how to access this system on our View and comment on a planning application page. Make sure you have the relevant planning application reference handy.

Advice on new planning proposals

If you are considering a planning proposal and need advice, you can find guidance on our Pre-application advice page. We offer basic information on whether you need planning permission and more detailed advice, including fees and documents you should include.

Advice on the validation process or checklist

Validation is a step where we check that all the necessary documents and fees (if needed) are included with your application. If an applicant or agent submits an application where there are missing documents or mistakes, it will not be considered valid. We will let you know what is missing or needs correcting to proceed.

We have put together a Validation Checklist that outlines all the requirements for a valid application. You can find this checklist on our Information requirements for planning applications page.

General planning enquiries

For general planning enquiries, our Planning Technicians will provide limited guidance and direct you to further advice if needed.

Enforcement

We are currently receiving a lot of enforcement enquiries, so there might be some delays in our investigation process. We will manage these enquiries based on the priority levels outlined in our Enforcement Policy.

For more information, please see our Planning Enforcement Policy page.