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.

[mjc55]

Arrggghhhhhhhh!

 

Just heard back from planning consultant.

 

Planning officer is very embarrassed - that really helps doesn't it.

 

Said he MAY get round to it in January, he hasn't even looked at the application yet.  This is after extending the deadline from 24th October until yesterday (29th November)

 

He is meeting with his manager on Wednesday so we have asked that it is brought up then.

 

Trouble is, an appeal will almost certainly take ages (6 months at least I think) so how does that help?  We can try and escalate with West Dorset and currently discussing with planning consultant whether to escalate before Wednesday or after.

 

It is just so frustrating, we bought the land exactly a year ago, had issues (resolved) with the boundary to next door so took ages to get to the point of application to find that as the boundary had changed that our PD to reserved matters application was invalid and so had to put in new planning app.

 

I'm so glad I got out of the game when I retired, I never had these difficulties when submitting planning applications to Wiltshire Council.  Things seem to have really changed since then.  The system is broken, trouble is - how does it get fixed?

[DevilDamo]

Get in contact with a Local Councillor, ask for it to be called in and determined at Committee. The meetings are usually held monthly, but it may now end up in the January meeting.

[mjc55]

This is something we have considered, I suppose that there is more of a chance of some rogue councillor taking issues with our application and making trouble. 

Parish council is very much in favour so that would help.

 

Will discuss this with planning consultant on Monday to get her view.

[BigBub]

Given that you have agreed to the extension of time to the deadline you also won't have the benefit of getting your fee refunded for the extra delay...

[mjc55]

Success!!!!!!

 

I wrote a stiff letter to the planning officer's manager yesterday as I know he had a meeting with her planned for tomorrow.

 

Got a phone call from the planning consultant this afternoon to say that they are passing the plans.  So excited!

 

I have to admit to being a bit downcast the last few days, this really has cheered us up.  

 

We can now press ahead with getting the utilities onto site as I know that this can take a little time.

 

2025 is going to be a very busy year!

[Alan Ambrose]

Be aware that there are a number of reports here on Buildhub (three that I remember) of getting the ‘it will be passed’ news informally … only for that not to be the case. I don’t want to create unnecessary anxiety but just be aware that occasionally that happens. I’ve had this myself and there’s always ‘my manager didn’t agree’ and other various excuses.

[SBMS]

4 hours ago, mjc55 said:

Success!!!!!!

 

I wrote a stiff letter to the planning officer's manager yesterday as I know he had a meeting with her planned for tomorrow.

 

Got a phone call from the planning consultant this afternoon to say that they are passing the plans.  So excited!

 

I have to admit to being a bit downcast the last few days, this really has cheered us up.  

 

We can now press ahead with getting the utilities onto site as I know that this can take a little time.

 

2025 is going to be a very busy year!

Congratulations! Appreciate @Alan Ambrose’s points but from my experience the conversation between planning officers and planning consultants

is fairly reliable. I would say if they’ve indicated they will pass it, your parish council were supportive and you didn’t have any pertinent objections it looks like a reason to celebrate. I remember the feeling, so savour it and get ready for the hard work! 😂

[mjc55]

Thanks @Alan Ambrose understand where you are coming from but as @SBMS says, I think that the gist of it is that the planning officer has discussed with his superior does suggest that this should be OK.  I will, of course await the official approval before being 100% convinced.