Planning applications

Award winner - Howgill Close, Bolton Low HousesAnybody proposing to alter or extend their house is encouraged to discuss whether there is a need for planning permission. A 'Guide for Householders form' can be downloaded below. If you complete and submit this form, officers will be able to give you further advice.

We are always pleased to help and would also take the opportunity to consider whether any other consents might be required i.e. Building Regulations approval.

Information about when planning permission is required for domestic and commercial work is also available on the Planning Portal, the government's online planning and building control resource. Our main planning page has a list of links to various Planning Portal pages to help you find the section that is relevant to you.

Advice before making an application

Prior to making an application, benefit might come from discussing your proposal with a planner. A planner will be available at the Town Hall, Workington to talk to any resident of the borough or business about any planning proposals and, if planning permission is required, how it can be obtained.

Developers and professional advisors are asked to make an appointment with an officer. Use our planning appointment online form to arrange a meeting. Simple enquiries can be dealt with by telephone, email or contact form.

Advice given will be accurate and objective but will be without prejudice to the formal consideration of any subsequent application. We can give you information about relevant planning policies and previous decisions and, where appropriate, our standards for such matters as car parking. Advice will also be given on the likely time scale for dealing with the planning application and the procedures to follow.

In order that an application, once received, can be formally registered there is a minimum amount of information that must be received with the application. This information varies depending on the application. Please see our validation checklists page for the information that would be required with your application.

Submitting an application online

The Authority encourages the submission of applications online using the Planning Portal as this method is more efficient for us and easier for you. It also means you only need to submit one copy of each supporting document. You can also use the Planning Portal fee calculator to help work out the cost of making a planning application.

Submitting an application using downloadable forms

Guidance for applicants and planning application forms or other relevant forms can be downloaded below or are available from Planning Services at the Town Hall, Workington.

As well as the actual form of application it is necessary to sign a certificate either confirming that you are the owner of the application site or that you have given notice to the owner and who that owner is. In addition to the forms it is necessary to submit an accurate site plan clearly defining the boundaries of the application site in red and any other land in your ownership in blue. If you do not have a site plan, Ordnance Survey map extracts can be bought from the planning offices at the Town Hall, Workington or online at the Planning Portal.

Three sets of the site plan and three sets of detailed and to scale drawings of what is proposed must accompany your application. In most cases it is necessary for a fee to be submitted with your application in accordance with the schedule of fees. A Design and Access Statement may also be required. If you are in any doubt as to what is required or what the planning fee should be, please contact planning services.

If you appoint an agent to act on your behalf, which can prove helpful, all correspondence will be sent to the agent who will also be contacted if information or amendments are needed. It is your agents' responsibility to keep you informed of progress with your application.

You or your appointed agent will be informed, normally within three working days, if any further information is required to make your application valid. If the requested information is not received within 15 working days the application will be returned.

Valid applications will be registered and acknowledged within three working days. The acknowledgement will set out your rights and give a date by which you should have received a decision.

If the application is for a proposal that does not require planning permission you will be told about this within five working days and any planning fee paid will be refunded.

Dealing with your application

We will try to deal with your application within eight weeks although this will not always be possible.

We publicise applications and seek the views of neighbours before making a decision. Your application will be available for inspection at Allerdale House and on this site.

Consultation letters will be sent within five working days and if appropriate site and press notices will be displayed within ten working days. Consultees will normally be allowed twenty-one days to comment. If amended plans are received and re-consultation is considered appropriate then a reduced time for responding may be imposed.

The planning officer will normally inspect the application site. If access to the property is required the applicant or their agent will be contacted as soon as possible to make arrangements. If further information or amendments are required to the proposal these will be explained to the applicant, normally within 28 days. It may be necessary to await the end of the consultation period before making contact.

Normally fifteen days will be allowed for the submission of the detail requested. If at the end of that period the detail has not been received the council may determine the application as submitted.

Applications will only be refused permission if they are unacceptable in principle or the necessary amendments cannot be agreed.

Whilst the planner dealing with your application may express views on the proposals, a formal decision can only be made by the Council's Development Panel or by the Head of Planning Services under powers delegated to him by Council. (Scheme of Delegation in Respect of Planning and Building Control Matters)

If the proposal is one to be considered by the Development Panel then objectors will be given the opportunity to address the meeting. If that occurs the applicant will be given the right to reply. There are agreed rules covering the opportunity to address the Development Panel.

Notification of the decision

A decision will normally be issued within three days of it being made. Those individuals who offered comments on the proposal will not normally be informed of the decision. The outcome of decisions can be found using our weekly application lists.

If it was necessary to refuse permission or to add condition to a permission the reason will be clearly explained and if there are any queries then a planning officer will be available to answer them.

A copy of the decision is available for public inspection.

Details of the minutes and agendas of meetings of the Development Panel can be accessed via Development Panel.

Appeals against decisions

There is a right of appeal against a refusal of planning permission. A similar right exists in respect of conditions that might have been added to a permission. Details of how to appeal will be given with the decision notice.

Even if an appeal has been lodged the council is willing, when appropriate, to see if the reason for refusal can be overcome and a new application submitted.

Only the applicant has a right of appeal. There is no third party right of appeal.

For further information on rights of appeal or the various forms that an appeal takes, visit www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk.

Search for an application

Information on the most recent applications to be received can be found in our weekly lists of applications, major development list and search planning applications pages.

If you then have any particular questions regarding the application then do not hesitate to get in touch. It will enable a prompter response if you quote the particular application reference number.

Commenting on a planning application

Anybody can offer comments on planning applications. The comments can either be in support of or against a proposal. Regard is always had to the comments of people who might be affected by development. The Council welcomes such involvement from its residents.

Comments must be put in writing to the Planning Manager at Allerdale House. Comments should be restricted to the merits of the development proposed. It is desirable that comments are submitted on line either by email to planning@allerdale.gov.uk or online through our planning application search.

Any comments received will be placed on the planning files and will be available for public inspection.

There is a limited time to make comments. Comments received after that time may not be taken account of.


Electronic forms

Electronic forms can be completed and submitted online, with no paper involved, which is not only our preferred method; it's kinder to the environment as well.

Downloadable Documents

All documents open in a new window.

File name

Size

Download time

Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for approval of details reserved by condition in PDF format37726 Kb179 mins 39 secs @ 28.8k, 89 mins 49 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for approval of reserved matters following outline approval in PDF format33478 Kb159 mins 25 secs @ 28.8k, 79 mins 43 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for conservation area consent for demolition in a conservation area in PDF format46941 Kb223 mins 32 secs @ 28.8k, 111 mins 46 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for consent to display an advertisement in PDF format46429 Kb221 mins 5 secs @ 28.8k, 110 mins 33 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for hedgerow removal notice in PDF format37080 Kb176 mins 34 secs @ 28.8k, 88 mins 17 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for a Lawful Development Certificate for an Existing use or operation or activity including those in breach of a planning condition in PDF format64659 Kb307 mins 54 secs @ 28.8k, 153 mins 57 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for a Lawful Development Certificate for a Proposed use or development in PDF format43453 Kb206 mins 55 secs @ 28.8k, 103 mins 28 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for listed building consent for alterations, extension or demolition of a listed building in PDF format53483 Kb254 mins 41 secs @ 28.8k, 127 mins 20 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for Outline Planning Permission with all matters reserved in PDF format72326 Kb344 mins 25 secs @ 28.8k, 172 mins 12 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for Outline Planning Permission With Some Matters Reserved in PDF format91655 Kb436 mins 27 secs @ 28.8k, 218 mins 14 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for Planning Permission in PDF format90134 Kb429 mins 13 secs @ 28.8k, 214 mins 36 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - excavation/waste material in PDF format43821 Kb208 mins 40 secs @ 28.8k, 104 mins 20 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed building in PDF format44918 Kb213 mins 54 secs @ 28.8k, 106 mins 57 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed fish tank (cage) in PDF format40165 Kb191 mins 16 secs @ 28.8k, 95 mins 38 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed road in PDF format31331 Kb149 mins 12 secs @ 28.8k, 74 mins 36 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of proposed demolition in PDF format39726 Kb189 mins 10 secs @ 28.8k, 94 mins 35 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for prior notification of proposed development by telecommunications code system operators in PDF format46558 Kb221 mins 42 secs @ 28.8k, 110 mins 51 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for removal or variation of a condition following grant of planning permission in PDF format46522 Kb221 mins 32 secs @ 28.8k, 110 mins 46 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerApplication for works to trees subject to a preservation order (TPO) and/or notification of proposed works to trees in conservation areas (CA) in PDF format41788 Kb198 mins 59 secs @ 28.8k, 99 mins 30 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerHouseholder Application for Planning Permission for works or extension to a dwelling in PDF format53972 Kb257 mins 1 sec @ 28.8k, 128 mins 30 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerDesign and Access Statement in PDF format38220 Kb182 mins 0 secs @ 28.8k, 91 mins 0 secs @ 56k
Microsoft Word formatDesign and Access Statement in Word format56320 Kb268 mins 11 secs @ 28.8k, 134 mins 6 secs @ 56k
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerPermitted Development - A Guide for Householders in PDF format67 Kb19 secs @ 28.8k, 10 secs @ 56k

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last updated 09 November 2009