The Planning Process
The first hurdle is validation. It can take about a week for officers to determine whether the application is technically proficient and has the right supporting documentation.
If valid, it will be placed on the planning register. You can search for the application via East Staffordshire Borough Council's Online Planning Explorer. You can search by name, address or application reference number. Recent applications are shown here.
Note: The Planning Explorer does not work properly all all browsers/platforms - you may need to use Internet Explorer on a PC.
The application will be forwarded to neighbours and a variety of consultees including the local parish or town council and county highways. The council's countryside officers or building conservation officers may be consulted. If required, other organisations such as the Environment Agency, or the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust may also be consulted. Neighbours and consultees have four weeks to register an objection.
The vast majority of applications are dealt with by an individual officer. The officer will make a site visit, consider the consultee representations and prepare a delegated report for the head of planning who will sign and issue the decision.
Most full applications, including householder applications are dealt with within eight weeks from receipt of a valid application. Agricultural Notices or GPDO's will be dealt with in four weeks, major applications in twelve.
In exceptional circumstances, a development control officer may wish to delay determination - say pending receipt of further information.
Major and more complex applications will be dealt with by committee. Applications being dealt with by an individual officer may also be referred to committee, either by the case officer or a ward councillor. This may happen in response to representations made by one or more consultees.
Editorial Comment
Planning within East Staffordshire
Like elsewhere in the country, the planning system is being revised. The Local Development Framework, (LDF) is a collection of documents that outline how planning will be managed in the Derbyshire Dales. Documents include the Core Strategy, the Local Development Scheme, (LDS), Development Plan Documents (DPD's) and a variety of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD's).
The LDS was formally adopted in June 2010. Adoption of the Core Strategy is imminent. SPD's covering specific issues such as deign, housing, re-use of farm buildings, open spaces, Bargates & Burton have been adopted, other will be published in due course.
For the present, most applications will be determined on the basis of saved local plan policies.
Culture
Development Control Officer's are accessible, open-minded and pro-active. Reviewing plans at an early stage increases the likelihood that the design is acceptable to both the client and the council. The plans are more likely to approved without too many unresolved conditions.