Dorset Council Local Planning Authority (LPA) has issued an update regarding their position on negotiation during planning applications and the submission of amended plans.
The LPA are pushing pre-application discussions prior to any submission of a planning application in order to resolve or identify policy considerations that will materially affect the outcome of a planning application. As such the Council’s new default position is..
During a planning application NOT TO SEEK or ACCEPT amendments to those applications where applicants and/or their agents HAVE NOT engaged with the Council, prior to planning application submission, via the pre-application advice service offered by the Council.
There are 4no. exceptions, those being:
- The information requested is required by the national or local lists for validation and was not requested prior to the validation of the application.
- Information and/ or clarification requested by the planning officer following validation of the planning application. Additional information must be submitted within 2 weeks of the request, and the applicant agrees to a 4 week Extension of Time to the target date.
- Amendments of a ‘minor’ nature required to improve the scheme which do no not require fresh public consultation with the public.
- Amendments requested by the planning officer, and only where pre-application was sought and considered favourable. If amendments are accepted, another 21 day consultation with the public shall occur and and Extension of Time agreed.
This means that, in general, amendments to planning applications will not be accepted if/for:
- An increase in the size of or a change to the red line of the application site unless very minor in nature and requested by the planning case officer.
- It would trigger the need for a fresh 21-day consultation.
- A significant move or relocation of footprint.
- A significant change or increase to the volume and/or massing of the built form.
- Different uses to that applied for.
- It significantly alters the character or description of the proposal.
- An increase in the number of dwellings proposed.
- The proposal would conflict with development plan policies.
- It would increase the visual impact of the development in a way that is likely to cause greater harm than the submitted scheme.
- It would increase the amenity impact of the development on a feature of recognised sensitivity.
- It would increase the impact on a heritage asset – designated or non-designated.
- It would exacerbate concerns raised by third parties.
The Final advice is… the LPA will not accept unsolicited amendments so please do not seek to make amendments in response to consultee comments, third-party representations or an objection without first clearing the submission of the amendments with the planning case officer.
