Agents Forum/Planning News

AGENDA

AGENTS FORUM

FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2008

GREENHILL HOTEL

Previous Events

Wednesday 12 September 2007

The Agents Forum Held on Wednesday 12 September 2007 was attended by 28 agents with 19 agents returning their feedback forms.

Presentations were made by:

Allen Camm & David Hand - Planning Portal

Peter Daley - Environmental Health Services Manager

Richard Evans & Julie Ward - Policy and Conservation

Terry O’Connell & David Thompson – Crime Prevention

Paul Shankland – Building Control Manager

Jill Elliott & Steve Long – Senior Planners

Feedback from Agents

List of delegates

Good mix of topics

Good coverage of subjects

Could Allerdale provide CPD Certificates

Very useful and informative

Well presented – well done

Very useful exchange of views

Good opportunity to discuss with officers and fellow professionals

Well organised day

As before a very useful day

Well worth attending

Areas for future events

The Planning Process - hints and tips

                                 - ways to help both sides

Design & Access Statements

CABE document fine for major developments but overkill for minor developments                                          

Highway issues

Listed building / Conservation area considerations                                                  

Update on LDF

Protection of trees in urban areas and landscape design

Agents who attended

NB:  Not all agents wished to be identified.

Percentage responses to presentations:

NB: 18 responses

NB: 19 responses

NB 18 responses

NB 17 responses

Planning news

Validation of Planning Applications

As from 1 May 2007 the Council will no longer be returning a copy of drawings or other documents with decision notices.  Applicants and agents will not receive a copy of a plan stamped either ‘approved’ or ‘refused’.

All plans (including site location plans) submitted with applications should each be referenced with specific Drawing Numbers.  Applications without these Drawing Number details will not be validated or registered.  It is similarly required that any plans submitted during the consideration of a planning application also include Drawing Numbers that indicate that they are revisions to a drawing already submitted. 

This procedure will no longer enable the past practice of approving part of a drawing (e.g. crossing out some elements of the drawing); a new plan with new Drawing Number will need to be submitted.

The Council wish to strongly emphasise that the onus rests with the developer to ensure that any subsequent works (and any building regulations application) reflect the approved Drawing Number details.  Any concerns or clarification on any approved details should be discussed with officers from the Planning Department.

1app

Your attention is also drawn to the introduction of ‘1app’, the National Standard Planning Application Form, which provides a more comprehensive document for the validation of applications (including their associated supporting documents).  The ‘1app’ Form will be formally introduced and adopted nationwide on 1 October 2007.  The Council will be using the new application forms from 4 June 2007.

Agents Forum

The feedback from the February 2007 Agents Forum was positive, with most agents concluding it had been a beneficial and informative event.  The Council has observed an increase in the number of applications submitted under the Planning Portal System which was outlined and promoted at the event, which has in turn reduced the number of invalid submitted applications.

It is intended to hold further similar events on a six month cycle, with the next forum intended for August 2007.  The intention is to cover a range of planning topics specifically raised by agents at the previous Forum.  An invitation including a more detailed programme will be provided nearer the date of the event.