Post planning permission amendments procedure
Following the granting of planning permission it is common practice or applicants to seek the approval of Local Planning Authorities for various 'minor' amendments. These typically relate to altering the design or siting of a proposed building or using alternative external facing materials. Sometimes these are submitted during construction but in many instances prior to the commencement of works.
In considering the proposed amendments the Council does not actually approve or refuse them. Rather, it decides whether or not the changes are so significant that they constitute material alterations that require a new planning application. For example, re-siting a proposed house closer to a neighbouring property or significantly increasing its height would nearly always require a new planning application.
The Council considers that the most appropriate method by which it can be determined whether a further planning application is required is by the submission of a Lawful Development Certificate application. The submission of a Lawful Development Certificate application is an established procedure that can allow formal consideration of changes. Such applications would appear on the Statutory Register and are therefore open to public inspection.
Lawful Development Certificate applications of this type would need to be accompanied by the following:
- A plan with the site outlined in red.
- Appropriate drawings with the proposed changes coloured red.
- A schedule of the proposed changes
- Copies of the relevant approved drawings
- A copy of the original planning permission
An exception to the above procedure would be for proposed amendments to 'Householder' schemes. This is on the basis that changes by this group of applicants tend to involve relatively small developments. However, to allow the variations to be considered the above information would still need to be provided.
Where post planning permission amendments are submitted by letter and by non-householders, they will be returned with the advice that a LDC application be submitted. However, if it is clearly apparent from a cursory inspection that a further application would be required this will be stated in our response.
