What is the Development Control Charter?
Development Control is a statutory council function which
primarily involves the determination of planning applications. This
charter sets out the standards for Suffolk Coastal’s Development
Control Service.
Our aim is to make the best decision about each planning
application. This means taking into account a proposal’s impact
upon the environment and on the interests of the community. It also
means balancing the needs of the applicant against the effect a
development might have on neighbours and other people living
nearby.
Development Control decisions will normally be taken in
accordance with relevant planning policies, unless other planning
considerations outweigh these policies.
Before making a planning application
Development Control staff are pleased to discuss applications
before they are formally made. Our aim is to encourage high quality
applications and to ensure they can be dealt with as quickly as
possible. Details on making an application and associated
information can be found on the website. We will also answer
queries by telephone, email or letter, but in the case of a
specific proposal it is better to make an appointment to discuss it
with a member of staff.
At our offices we have
a Planning Helpdesk with specialist officers
dedicated to providing informal advice and advice on the progress
of an application. To contact the helpdesk call 01394
444403 or 444428 or email
d.c.admin@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
Our fax number is 01394 385100.
How applications are processed
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that applications
are submitted correctly. An incorrect application will be returned
with an explanation of how it should be corrected.
When an application is received, a case officer will be
identified and he or she will visit the development site. Further
information to help determine the application may be sought and a
time limit for its return will be set. The current status of
an application can be tracked online (new
window).
The majority of applications are determined by the
Head of
Planning Services under delegated powers set out in the
Scheme of Delegation (new window PDF 54KB).
The final decision on an application will be sent to applicants
promptly together with any conditions attached to the permission
or reasons for its refusal. If permission is refused, the
applicant’s right of appeal against this decision will be
explained. Copies of
planning decisions can be viewed online(new
window).
Public notices
All current planning applications and past decisions are listed
in the statutory register which is available for public inspection
during
normal office hours and
online on the Council's website (new
window).
- Planning applications will also be publicised by site
notice.
- A weekly list of all applications is also posted
on the website.
- Applications related to listed buildings or development in a
conservation area are publicised by advertisement in the East
Anglian Daily Times on a Thursdays.
Members of the public have the opportunity to inspect the
application documents and submit written comments. All comments
received will be considered before the decision on an application
is reached.
Representatives of applicants, objectors and the relevant
town
or parish council can speak at one of the Council’s
Development Control Sub-Committees. A summary of
the Council’s public speaking procedure is available in our
leaflet Having your say on planning applications (new
window PDF 43KB). Information on the
dates of forthcoming committees and the
procedure for registering to speak is available on the website
or by contacting the case officer.
Enforcement of planning regulations
All development must be carried out in accordance with the
approved plans. When an alleged breach of planning control is
reported, the site will be inspected. The developer will be
contacted and given time to take corrective action. All complaints
about alleged breaches of planning control will be treated
confidentially within the Council so far as is practicable. Follow
this link for
more information about planning enforcement.
Our standards
- All letters, other than those commenting on a planning
application will be acknowledged on receipt and a full response
will be sent within 28 calendar days.
- Telephone enquiries not capable of immediate response will be
dealt with within one working day.
- Receipt of valid applications will be acknowledged within 3
working days.
- Should the application be for development not requiring
planning permission, it will be returned within 15 working days and
the fee refunded.
- Incorrect applications will be returned within 5 working days
with guidance notes for resubmission.
- We aim to determine at least 80% of straightforward
applications (home extensions, listed building applications,
changes of use) within 8 weeks, 60% of major applications within 13
weeks. For ‘minor’ cases, e.g. up to 9 houses, we aim to determine
65% of applications in 8 weeks.
- Decision notices will be issued within 3 working days.
- Applications and decisions will be posted in the statutory
register within 3 working days.
- A period of 21 calendar days will be allowed for written
comments to be submitted following posting of the site
notices.
- We aim to inspect the majority of sites within 28 calendar days
of receiving a complaint about breach of planning control and those
of an urgent nature as soon as possible.
How to comment on our standards and how we meet them
If you wish to discuss details of a particular case contact the
relevant case officer in the first instance. If you feel that our
standards are set at an inappropriate level or that we have failed
to meet the standards set, please contact Paul Coffey, Development
Control Manager, on 01394 444417 or email
paul.coffey@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
who will be happy to discuss your concerns.
The information on this page is also available in our
Development Charter leaflet (new window PDF
116KB).
Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF
files.