Parish Council's Role in Planning

Planning Applications and the Parish Council

Planning is a District Council responsibility and the Parish Council has a limited role it its execution. 

Most planning applications are delegated to planning officers, so not all planning applications are considered by the planning Committee of the District Council.  Considerations are given to the provisions of any Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plan, approved Village Design Statement, Conservation status etc - Planning permission is about what you ‘can do’ rather than what you ‘can’t do’.

Planning Application reports will include a recommendation by the district council's planning officers to either grant or refuse the application  At the request of a local ward member, an application can be ‘called in’ for the planning committee to make a decision with the benefit of the officer’s recommendation.

If a property is built or developed on a site without planning permission, the council may ask for an application to be made retrospectively. If the council considers the development an unacceptable breach of planning control, they may take enforcement action.

The Parish Council is advised, by the District Council, of all planning applications made in the Elmdon & Wenden Lofts area, whether they are to be delegated to an officer or determined by committee.  

The Parish Council, like any immediate neighbour who receives a similar notification, is invited to comment by a specific date.  Put very simply the Parish Council’s role in a planning application is as follows:

• The Parish Council can support an application but not approve it.

• The Parish Council can object to an application but not refuse it.

This is by way of illustration only and not a definitive description of how the planning process works.

Since Uttlesford District Council was put into Special Measures under Section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990), some  Planning applications can be submitted directly to The Planning Inspectorate.  This does not affect the Parish Council's role, only to whom representations are made.

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I will be adding links to UDC pages concerned with planning matters.