8 weeks!

[mjc55]

So it is a couple of years or so since I was involved in submitting planning applications.  This was in Wiltshire - and I cannot remember ever getting to the 8 week deadline without either having a decision or them asking for an extension.

 

Our 8 week planning period was up last Thursday and nothing from the (Dorset) planning department re our application.

 

I decided to use a planning consultant rather than submit the application ourselves as I had never dealt with Dorset.  She communicated with planning early last week but he hadn't even looked at the app yet! 

 

I am unhappy at the lack of communication but am loath to get in touch as my unhappiness might leak through and I don't want anything to compromise his decision making process.

 

Have I missed something re the 8 week deadline, was I just lucky that I had a relationship with the planning department in Wiltshire and therefore communication lines were open?

 

What is the experience of others in Dorset (if any) re the planning department?

 

(Mild) rant over.  I open the forum to others to respond!

 

Thanks

Edited October 27 by mjc55

[Conor]

Is 8 weeks even remotely realistic?!! I've never heard of planning going through even close to that. Ours (new build) took near enough a year, and before that a simple extension was 14 weeks. Obviously different part of the country, bit similar policies and budgets....

[Alan Ambrose]

Check out your LPA on the .gov planning stats page. You want full applications / minor developments. That will give a range and set your expectations. Our LPA has been known to take a year also. Hopefully, you will have a better result. Of course, your consultant will probably know the local score too.

[Benpointer]

16 minutes ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Check out your LPA on the .gov planning stats page. You want full applications / minor developments. That will give a range and set your expectations. Our LPA has been known to take a year also. Hopefully, you will have a better result. Of course, your consultant will probably know the local score too.

I assume it's this spreadsheet https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66ec38e0c8398625c331e7eb/Planning_Performance_Dashboard_Table_Final.xlsx

 

And the relevant columns for self-build applications are headed "Non-major development excluding householder development"?

 

Edited October 27 by Benpointer

[mjc55]

3 hours ago, Conor said:

Is 8 weeks even remotely realistic?!! I've never heard of planning going through even close to that. Ours (new build) took near enough a year, and before that a simple extension was 14 weeks. Obviously different part of the country, bit similar policies and budgets....

 

Do you mean for new build or just householder planning apps?

 

To be honest I am pretty shocked - in my experience of sub mitting planning apps from about 2013 until 2022ish in Wiltshire I really don't remember many taking more than 8 weeks and for those that did the planning officer would ask for an extension.

[Alan Ambrose]

>>> And the relevant columns for self-build applications are headed "Non-major development excluding householder development"?

 

Yes, that's right. Why would planning call it 'minor' when you can call it 'non-major'. There are two good measures - 'time to process' (% processed within 8 weeks) and 'quality of decision' i.e. % of appeals the LPA wins. And, call me suspicious, but why are these presented as big old spreadsheets with confusing headings rather than easy to view graphs or charts? Note that times are time from 'validation' rather than submission, which gives the LPA some latitude to play games with validation time.

 

For Dorset, I'm seeing 43% made within 8 weeks, 86% made within '8 weeks or the agreed period' (and we have no idea what that period was). I'm also seeing 89% of all (major and 'non-major') granted. I've never really understood what happens if you don't agree with your LPAs proposed time extension?

 

The appeals stats are here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/planning-inspectorate-statistical-release-24-october-2024

[DevilDamo]

@Alan Ambrose Still not getting used to the quote function so others would receive a notification when you quote them…?

 

@mjc55 It varies between LPA’s but the majority need a push to keep applications on track.

[mjc55]

So planning consultant managed to get hold of planning officer and he asked for an extension until 6th December, she said that was too much and we have settled for 29th November (so an additional 5 weeks)

 

A pain, but realistically what else could we do but agree.

 

I never was in this position with any of the jobs I submitted, what would actually happen if we didn't agree with extension, presumably they would just decline application?

[DevilDamo]

21 minutes ago, mjc55 said:

presumably they would just decline application?

In a nutshell, yes. Or they may be able to issue a “decline to determine” outcome. Either way, it would mean you having to go back through the Planning process again and pay the relevant fees.