The law states that a planning application has to be dealt with within 8 weeks. You will be informed which Officer has been assigned to deal with your application.
The Officer will normally write to your immediate neighbours telling them that your application has been submitted, what you are applying to do and giving them 3 weeks to make comments if they wish to do so.
Depending on your proposal, there are also instances when it is necessary to consult other bodies. For example, for a new housing development the Fire Brigade would be consulted.
How your application is decided is dependent on comments received from nearby residents and what the Unitary Development Plan says about your proposal.
If there is an objection to your proposal or if your proposal is contrary to policies in the Unitary Development Plan, the Officer will contact you to discuss making amendments.
For example, the Unitary Development Plan's policy on 2-storey domestic rear extensions includes a statement that the extension's roof should match the main building.
Therefore, if you live in a pitched roof house and your proposal is for a flat roof rear extension, it is likely that the Officer will ask that your application be amended to include a pitched roof.
Once the consultation exercise is complete, the Officer is responsible for writing a report in which a recommendation to either grant or refuse planning permission is made.
In some instances councillors who make up the Development Control Board of the council make the final decision. They meet approximately twice a month in the evening. This is a public meeting.
This means you have planning permission. In nearly every case, planning permission is granted subject to certain conditions. These will be written on your blue decision notice.
For example, there would be a condition requiring that building work commences within 5 years of the decision's date.
This means that you do not yet have planning permission. It is not the end of the road for your proposal. You have the option to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate (details of which will be on the reverse of the pink decision notice).
You also have the option to re-submit a similar proposal within 1 year of the decision's date.
On some occasions councillors will decide to make a decision at a later date. This could be because they wish to visit the site prior to making the decision.
Remember that at all stages the Development Control Section is available to advise you.
Many applications will be handled under powers delegated from the Development Control Board to officers of the council. This can speed up the date you receive a decision.
Development Control Team
Town Hall
1 Town Square
Barking
IG11 7LU
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
|
Home|
Help|
© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470