Hi,
I submitted planning application Nov 23 and due to the backlog the local council back dated to sometime in Oct as the validation took so long (for some reason the local planning website is down so cannot find the exact date in Oct).
The decision was due on 25th Dec 23 and for obvious reasons, I was asked for a further two week extension to allow for neighbour consultation.
Today, the date before a decision was due I have a request to extend a further two weeks because the conservation team haven't got back to the planning officer.
For one thing, the property is not in a conservation area but is nearby a conservation asset so their two penneth is required!!
I believe the legal time period for determining an application is 26 weeks and I think that this extension request will push this over (I can't determine until I can get on to the local planning website) so if it does, can I refuse the extension? Does 26 weeks take in to account holidays etc?
What action is likely if I do refuse the extension? Do the local planning officers just refuse the application out of spite? Can they refuse on the grounds that they dont have a response from the conservation department?
My concern is that they've had this application for a while and all I keep getting is excuses and extension requests, and knowing this council they'll just refuse in the end anyway. I just feel they're looking for excuses so am looking for some advise in case anyone has been in this situation.
Thanks
