Before Making a Planning Application

Information on gaining advice as to the need for planning permission is available here.

Duty Planning Service

Formal Submissons

The Council also considers that a planning application which has had the benefit of consultation with stakeholders and interested parties prior to its submission will result in an improved scheme. Accordingly you are asked to consider undertaking your own consultations with the relevant Parish Council and local residents.  The Council has an adopted Statement of Community Involvement which details the level of public engagement and consultation that developers should take with the local community before submitting a planning applicaiton (summarised on pages 49 and 50).

The Council expects planning applications to be determined within the timescales set by National guidance. These targets are as follows:

· Major applications – 13 weeks

· Minor and other applications 8 weeks

To help us meet these targets we expect planning applications to be submitted in a way that meets and respects the Council’s approved standards. Meeting these standards should mean that you receive a quicker decision from us.

For these reasons:

· Applications which are submitted fully in accordance with the Council's approved policies and standards will be dealt with speedily.

· Applications submitted which do not accord with the Council’s approved policies and standards are likely to be refused without discussion with the applicant or agent. Amended plans will only be accepted if the application can be determined within deadlines.

· If pre-application has been taken and the advice from planning officers is not followed and the submitted application does not accord with the Council’s approved polices and standards the planning application is likely to be refused without discussion.

· For planning applications requiring a legal agreement, the failure to conclude an agreement within 8 or 13 weeks from the date of registration of the application will mean that the application will be refused as the proposal will fail to deliver the mitigating measures required in the Section 106 Agreement and thus be contrary to Local Plan Policies. This includes those applications which need to be presented to the Development Control Committee.

Pre applications and confidentiality

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Council may consider pre-application submissions, which are commercially sensitive, as confidential. A public interest test will be applied to determine whether a proposal can be deemed as confidential. Should the information fall outside of this category or a planning application is submitted on the site for a similar scheme, the information may be made available to the general public.

Fees for repeat planning applications

Where a further application is submitted the application will be exempt from a fee if:

· the applicant is the same;

· the site edged red is the same;

· the revised application is "for the same character or description of development";

· the submission must be within 12 months of determination of the application or 12 months from the date of registration of a withdrawn application.

This exemption from paying a fee qualifies for only one application.

Submissions and communication through email are encouraged:
Emails should be sent to: development.control@basingstoke.gov.uk
Telephone: 01256 844844
Fax: 01256 845200
Posted to: Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Development Control
Civic Offices London Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire RG21 4AH