How to Apply for Planning Permission or Appeal an Enforcement

Every type of planning application requires a variety of supporting evidence to justify why it should be approved, architectural drawings, maps, block plans and of course the correct application to be completed.

Once an application is submitted the planning authority first needs to validate it, which can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. If there is anything missing or incorrect the planning officer may invalidate the application and until the missing info is added or mistakes corrected.

From the day the application is validated they then have up to 8 weeks to process the application and reach a decision. Sometimes they request additional information or minor design alterations which can delay the process further.

The appeal process depends on the complexity of the issue. Many appeals for enforcement notices are by means of an inquiry, as there may need to be complex legal issues to overcome. The planning Inspector will consider all the evidence provided by all parties and will visit the site to assess the proposal. A final decision will subsequently be made in writing after the site visit. The whole process from submission to decision should take around three months.

In theory anyone can submit an application although other than industry professionals those who try are often rejected unnecessarily due to missing information or mistakes. Even architects are normally only qualified in architectural design but not planning permission. This means that although they can draw anything, it may not meet all of the necessary planning criteria. In fact, lots of clients come to us having been rejected with an architect because the application did not meet the required planning criteria.

At Studio Charrette, we have a team of inhouse architects and planners who work together on every application. This ensures the design meets both our client’s expectation and also the expectations of the planning authority to give every application the best chance of success.

Contact us now to speak with one of our expert planning consultants to find out what is the best approach for your planning enforcement and the likelihood of success.

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