Determining a planning application - GOV.UK

Who must the local planning authority notify once it has made a decision on a planning application? Print this page. Where plans are being prepared under the ... Skiptomaincontent CookiesonGOV.UK Weusesomeessentialcookiestomakethiswebsitework. We’dliketosetadditionalcookiestounderstandhowyouuseGOV.UK,rememberyoursettingsandimprovegovernmentservices. Wealsousecookiessetbyothersitestohelpusdelivercontentfromtheirservices. Acceptadditionalcookies Rejectadditionalcookies Viewcookies Youcanchangeyourcookiesettingsatanytime. Hidethismessage Home Housing,localandcommunity Planningandbuilding Planningsystem Guidance Determiningaplanningapplication Setsoutprocessandexpectationsonplanningperformanceanddecisionmaking. From: DepartmentforLevellingUp,HousingandCommunitiesandMinistryofHousing,Communities&LocalGovernment Published 6March2014 Lastupdated 24June2021 — Seeallupdates Getemailsaboutthispage Contents Whatarethetimeperiodsfordeterminingaplanningapplication? Howmustdecisionsonapplicationsforplanningpermissionbemade? Whoinalocalplanningauthoritymakesaplanningdecision? Whomustthelocalplanningauthoritynotifyonceithasmadeadecisiononaplanningapplication? Printthispage WhereplansarebeingpreparedunderthetransitionalarrangementssetoutinAnnex1totherevisedNationalPlanningPolicyFramework,thepoliciesinthepreviousversionoftheframeworkpublishedin2012willcontinuetoapply,aswillanypreviousguidancewhichhasbeensupersededsincethenewframeworkwaspublishedinJuly2018. Ifyou’dlikeanemailalertwhenchangesaremadetoplanningguidancepleasesubscribe. Whatarethetimeperiodsfordeterminingaplanningapplication? Onceaplanningapplicationhasbeenvalidated,thelocalplanningauthorityshouldmakeadecisionontheproposalasquicklyaspossible,andinanyeventwithinthestatutorytimelimitunlessalongerperiodisagreedinwritingwiththeapplicant. Thestatutorytimelimitsforapplicationsforplanningpermissionaresetoutinarticle34oftheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure(England)Order2015(asamended).Theyare13weeksforapplicationsformajordevelopment,10weeksforapplicationsfortechnicaldetailsconsent,and(from1August2021)applicationsforpublicserviceinfrastructuredevelopment,and8weeksforallothertypesofdevelopment(unlessanapplicationissubjecttoantoanEnvironmentalImpactAssessment,inwhichcasea16weeklimitapplies). Whereaplanningapplicationtakeslongerthanthestatutoryperiodtodecide,andanextendedperiodhasnotbeenagreedwiththeapplicant,thegovernment’spolicyisthatthedecisionshouldbemadewithin26weeksatmostinordertocomplywiththe‘planningguarantee’. Paragraph:001ReferenceID:21b-001-20140306 Revisiondate:24062021Seepreviousversion Whatisthegovernment’s‘planningguarantee’? Theplanningguaranteeisthegovernment’spolicythatnoapplicationshouldspendmorethanayearwithdecision-makers,includinganyappeal.Inpracticethismeansthatplanningapplicationsshouldbedecidedinnomorethan26weeks,allowingasimilarperiodforanyappeal.Theplanningguaranteedoesnotreplacethestatutorytimelimitsfordeterminingplanningapplications. Paragraph:002ReferenceID:21b-002-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Inwhatwayscanalongertimeperiodbeagreed? Whereitisclearattheoutsetthatanextendedperiodwillbenecessarytoprocessanapplication,thelocalplanningauthorityandtheapplicantshouldconsiderenteringintoaplanningperformanceagreementbeforetheapplicationissubmitted. Ifavalidapplicationisalreadybeingconsideredanditbecomesclearthatmoretimethanthestatutoryperiodisgenuinelyrequired,thenthelocalplanningauthorityshouldasktheapplicanttoconsideranagreedextensionoftime.Anysuchagreementmustbeinwritingandsetoutthetimescalewithinwhichadecisionisexpected. Thetimetablesetoutinaplanningperformanceagreementorextensionoftimemaybevariedbyagreementinwritingbetweentheapplicantandthelocalplanningauthority. Paragraph:003ReferenceID:21b-003-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Whathappensifanapplicationisnotdealtwithontime? Whereavalidapplicationhasnotbeendeterminedwithintherelevantstatutoryperiod(orsuchotherperiodashasbeenagreedinwritingbetweenthelocalplanningauthorityandtheapplicant),theapplicanthasarighttoappealtotheSecretaryofStateagainstnon-determination. Iftheapplicanthasnotexercisedthisrightofappeal,andtheapplicationremainsundeterminedafter26weeks,thenthefeepaidbytheapplicantwillberefundedtothem(unlessalongerperiodforthedecisionhasbeenagreed). Applicantsshouldnotattempttodelayadecisionontheirapplicationsimplytoobtainafeerefund.Alocalplanningauthoritywillbejustifiedinrefusingpermissionwhereanapplicantcausesdeliberatedelayandhasbeenunwillingtoagreeanextensionoftime;andsuchbehaviourwillbetakenintoaccountindetermininganyclaimforcostsbythelocalplanningauthorityiftheapplicantthengoestoappeal. Paragraph:004ReferenceID:21b-004-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Whathappensifaplanningauthorityfailsrepeatedlytodecideapplicationsontime? Section62BoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended)allowstheSecretaryofStatetodesignatelocalplanningauthoritiesthat“arenotadequatelyperformingtheirfunctionofdeterminingapplications”,whenassessedagainstpublishedcriteria. Thosecriteriarelateto: thespeedofdecisionsmadebylocalplanningauthoritiesforapplicationsformajorandnon-majordevelopment,measuredbythepercentageofapplicationsthathavebeendeterminedwithinthestatutoryperiodorsuchextendedtimeashasbeenagreedbetweenthelocalplanningauthorityandtheapplicant thequalityofdecisionsmadebylocalplanningauthoritiesforapplicationsformajorandnon-majordevelopment,measuredbytheproportionofdecisionsonapplicationsthataresubsequentlyoverturnedatappeal(includingthosearisingfroma‘deemedrefusal’whereanapplicationhasnotbeendeterminedwithinthestatutoryperiod) Ifalocalplanningauthorityfallsbelowtheperformancethresholdssetoutinthecriteriaitmaybedesignatedforitsperformanceinrelationtoapplicationsformajordevelopment,non-majordevelopment,orboth. Inthiscase,section62AoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended)allowsapplicationsforthecategoryofdevelopmentforwhichtheauthorityhasbeendesignated(i.e.majordevelopment,non-majordevelopmentorboth)tobesubmitteddirectlytotheSecretaryofState(iftheapplicantwishes)aslongasthedesignationremainsinplace.Thisexcludeshouseholderandretrospectiveapplications,whichmuststillbemadedirectlytothelocalplanningauthority. Paragraph:005ReferenceID:21b-005-20170728 Revisiondate:28072017Seepreviousversion Howmustdecisionsonapplicationsforplanningpermissionbemade? Totheextentthatdevelopmentplanpoliciesarematerialtoanapplicationforplanningpermissionthedecisionmustbetakeninaccordancewiththedevelopmentplanunlesstherearematerialconsiderationsthatindicateotherwise(seesection70(2)oftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990andsection38(6)ofthePlanningandCompulsoryPurchaseAct2004–theseprovisionsalsoapplytoappeals). TheNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkrepresentsup-to-dategovernmentplanningpolicyandisamaterialconsiderationthatmustbetakenintoaccountwhereitisrelevanttoaplanningapplicationorappeal.Thisincludesthepresumptioninfavourofdevelopmentfoundatparagraph14oftheFramework.IfdecisiontakerschoosenottofollowtheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework,whereitisamaterialconsideration,clearandconvincingreasonsfordoingsoareneeded. Paragraph:006ReferenceID:21b-006-20190315 Revisiondate:15032019Seepreviousversion Paragraph:007-REMOVED-Seepreviousversion Whatisamaterialplanningconsideration? Amaterialplanningconsiderationisonewhichisrelevanttomakingtheplanningdecisioninquestion(egwhethertograntorrefuseanapplicationforplanningpermission). Thescopeofwhatcanconstituteamaterialconsiderationisverywideandsothecourtsoftendonotindicatewhatcannotbeamaterialconsideration.However,ingeneraltheyhavetakentheviewthatplanningisconcernedwithlanduseinthepublicinterest,sothattheprotectionofpurelyprivateinterestssuchastheimpactofadevelopmentonthevalueofaneighbouringpropertyorlossofprivaterightstolightcouldnotbematerialconsiderations. Paragraph:008ReferenceID:21b-008-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Whatweightcanbegiventoamaterialconsideration? Thelawmakesacleardistinctionbetweenthequestionofwhethersomethingisamaterialconsiderationandtheweightwhichitistobegiven.Whetheraparticularconsiderationismaterialwilldependonthecircumstancesofthecaseandisultimatelyadecisionforthecourts.Providedregardishadtoallmaterialconsiderations,itisforthedecisionmakertodecidewhatweightistobegivetothematerialconsiderationsineachcase,and(subjecttothetestofreasonableness)thecourtswillnotgetinvolvedinthequestionofweight. Paragraph:009ReferenceID:21b-009-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Canlocalplanningauthoritiestaketheplanninghistoryofasiteintoaccountwhendetermininganapplicationforplanningpermission? Theplanninghistoryofasitemaybearelevantconsiderationinthedeterminationofanapplication.Inparticular,whenconsideringapplicationsformajordevelopmentinvolvingtheprovisionofhousing,theNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkindicatesthatlocalplanningauthoritiesshouldassesswhyanearliergrantofplanningpermissionforsimilardevelopmentonthesamesitedidnotstart.Relevantfactorstotakeintoconsiderationmightincludeevidenceastothereasonswhyanearlierpermissionwasnotimplemented,thetimethathaselapsedsincethepreviouspermissionexpiredandthenumberofsimilarapplicationsmadeforthesamesite. Paragraph:010ReferenceID:21b-010-20190315 Revisiondate:15032019Seepreviousversion Whenshoulda‘localfinanceconsideration’betakenintoaccountasamaterialplanningconsideration? Section70(2)oftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended)providesthatalocalplanningauthoritymusthaveregardtoalocalfinanceconsiderationasfarasitismaterial.Section70(4)ofthe1990Act(asamended)definesalocalfinanceconsiderationasagrantorotherfinancialassistancethathasbeen,thatwillorthatcouldbeprovidedtoarelevantauthoritybyaMinisteroftheCrown(suchasNewHomesBonuspayments),orsumsthatarelevantauthorityhasreceived,orwillorcouldreceive,inpaymentoftheCommunityInfrastructureLevy. Whetherornota‘localfinanceconsideration’ismaterialtoaparticulardecisionwilldependonwhetheritcouldhelptomakethedevelopmentacceptableinplanningterms.Itwouldnotbeappropriatetomakeadecisionbasedonthepotentialforthedevelopmenttoraisemoneyforalocalauthorityorothergovernmentbody. Indecidinganapplicationforplanningpermissionorappealwherealocalfinancialconsiderationismaterial,decisiontakersneedtoensurethatthereasonssupportingthedecisionclearlystatehowtheconsiderationhasbeentakenintoaccountanditsconnectiontothedevelopment. NewHomesBonuspaymentsrecognisetheeffortsmadebyauthoritiestobringresidentialdevelopmentforward.EvenwhereanticipatedBonuspaymentsarenotamaterialconsiderationinmakingplanningdecisions,theycanbenotedforinformationincommitteereportsonapplicationsforhousing.Wherethisisdone,carewillberequirednottoimplythatBonuspaymentsarerelevanttothedecisionbeforethecommittee. Paragraph:011ReferenceID:21b-011-20140612 Revisiondate:12062014Seepreviousversion Whatapproachmustbetakenwheredevelopmentplanpoliciesconflictwithoneanother? Undersection38(5)ofthePlanningandCompulsoryPurchaseAct2004ifapolicycontainedinadevelopmentplanforanareaconflictswithanotherpolicyinthedevelopmentplan,theconflictmustberesolvedinfavourofthepolicywhichiscontainedinthelastdocumenttobeadopted,approvedorpublished. Conflictsbetweendevelopmentplanpoliciesadopted,approvedorpublishedatthesametimemustbeconsideredinthelightofallmaterialconsiderations,includinglocalprioritiesandneeds,asguidedbytheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework. Paragraph:012ReferenceID:21b-012-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Canthelocalplanningauthoritydecidenottofollowthepoliciesinthedevelopmentplan? Thelocalplanningauthoritymaydepartfromdevelopmentplanpolicywherematerialconsiderationsindicatethattheplanshouldnotbefollowed,subjecttoanyconditionsprescribedbydirectionbytheSecretaryofState.Thispowertodepartfromdevelopmentplanpolicyisconfirmedinarticle32oftheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(England)Order2015. Incaseswherethelocalplanningauthorityintendstodepartfromdevelopmentplanpolicy,article15(3)oftheDevelopmentManagementProcedureOrdersetsoutthepublicityrequirementswhichmustbefollowedbeforethedecisionistaken. Paragraph:013ReferenceID:21b-013-20150327 Revisiondate:27032015Seepreviousversion Inwhatcircumstancesmightitbejustifiabletorefuseplanningpermissiononthegroundsofprematurity? Paragraphs48-50oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkexplainhowweightmaybegiventopoliciesinemergingplans,andthelimitedcircumstancesinwhichitmaybejustifiedtorefuseanapplicationonthebasisthatitispremature. Paragraph:014ReferenceID:21b-014-20190315 Revisiondate:15032019Seepreviousversion Shouldchildren’sbestinterestsbetakenintoaccountwhendeterminingplanningapplications? Localauthoritiesneedtoconsiderwhetherchildren’sbestinterestsarerelevanttoanyplanningissueunderconsideration.Indoingso,theywillwanttoensuretheirapproachisproportionate.Theyneedtoconsiderthecasebeforethem,andneedtobemindfulthatthebestinterestsofaparticularchildwillnotalwaysoutweighotherconsiderationsincludingthosethatimpactnegativelyontheenvironmentorthewidercommunity.Thiswillincludeconsideringthescopetomitigateanypotentialharmthroughnon-planningmeasures,forexamplethroughinterventionorextrasupportforthefamilythroughsocial,healthandeducationservices. Paragraph:028ReferenceID:21b-028-20150901 Revisiondate:01092015 Whoinalocalplanningauthoritymakesaplanningdecision? Section101oftheLocalGovernmentAct1972allowsthelocalplanningauthoritytoarrangeforthedischargeanyofitsfunctionsbyacommittee,sub-committee,oranofficerorbyanyotherlocalauthority.Anexceptionwherethispowermaynotapplyiswherethelocalauthority’sownapplicationfordevelopmentcouldgiverisetoaconflictofinterest,whenregulation10oftheTownandCountryPlanningGeneralRegulations1992applies. Theexerciseofthepowertodelegateplanningfunctionsisgenerallyamatterforindividuallocalplanningauthorities,havingregardtopracticalconsiderationsincludingtheneedforefficientdecision-takingandlocaltransparency.Itisinthepublicinterestforthelocalplanningauthoritytohaveeffectivedelegationarrangementsinplacetoensurethatdecisionsonplanningapplicationsthatraisenosignificantplanningissuesaremadequicklyandthatresourcesareappropriatelyconcentratedontheapplicationsofgreatestsignificancetothelocalarea. Localplanningauthoritydelegationarrangementsmayincludeconditionsorlimitationsastotheextentofthedelegation,orthecircumstancesinwhichitmaybeexercised. Paragraph:015ReferenceID:21b-015-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Howmustelectedcouncillorsandothermembersofthelocalauthorityconsiderplanningapplications? Localauthoritymembersareinvolvedinplanningmatterstorepresenttheinterestsofthewholecommunityandmustmaintainanopenmindwhenconsideringplanningapplications.Wherememberstakedecisionsonplanningapplicationstheymustdosoinaccordancewiththedevelopmentplanunlessmaterialconsiderationsindicateotherwise.Membersmustonlytakeintoaccountmaterialplanningconsiderations,whichcanincludepublicviewswheretheyrelatetorelevantplanningmatters.Localoppositionorsupportforaproposalisnotinitselfagroundforrefusingorgrantingplanningpermission,unlessitisfoundeduponvalidmaterialplanningreasons. Paragraph:016ReferenceID:21b-016-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Howistheconductofelectedmembersregulated? UnderPart1oftheLocalismAct2011eachlocalauthorityisrequiredtoadoptalocalCodeofConductthatsetsouttheexpectationsastotheconductofmembersincarryingouttheirofficialduties.Thelocalauthoritymustalsokeeparegisterofmembers’interests. ThepublicationOpennessandtransparencyonpersonalinterests:aguideforcouncillorsgivespracticalinformationaboutmembers’personalinterestsandthestandardsarrangementsintroducedbytheLocalismAct2011. Paragraph:017ReferenceID:21b-017-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Cananelectedmemberwhohasrepresentedconstituentsinterestedinaplanningapplicationbeaccusedofpre-determinationorbias,ifheorshesubsequentlyspeaksorvotesonthatapplication? Section25oftheLocalismAct2011clarifiesthatamemberisnottoberegardedasbeingunabletoactfairlyorwithoutbiasiftheyparticipateinadecisiononamattersimplybecausetheyhavepreviouslyexpressedavieworcampaignedonit.Membersmaycampaignandrepresenttheirconstituents–andthenspeakandvoteonthoseissues–withoutfearofbreakingtherulesonpre-determination.Membersmayalsospeakwithdevelopersandexpresspositiveviewsaboutdevelopment. Adistinctioncanbedrawnbetweenpre-determinationandpre-disposition.Membersmustnothaveaclosedmindwhentheymakeadecision,asdecisionstakenbythosewithpre-determinedviewsarevulnerabletosuccessfullegalchallenge.Atthepointofmakingadecision,membersmustcarefullyconsideralltheevidencethatisputbeforethemandbepreparedtomodifyorchangetheirinitialviewinthelightoftheargumentsandevidencepresented.Thentheymustmaketheirfinaldecisionatthemeetingwithanopenmindbasedonalltheevidence. Paragraph:018ReferenceID:21b-018-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Whomustthelocalplanningauthoritynotifyonceithasmadeadecisiononaplanningapplication? Thelocalplanningauthoritymustformallynotifytheapplicantoftheirdecisionusingawrittendecisionnotice.Underarticle33(2)oftheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(England)Order2015thelocalplanningauthoritymustalsogivenoticeoftheirdecisiontoeverypersonwhohasmadearepresentationwhoisanownerofthelandoratenantofanagriculturalholdingonthelandoranadjoiningowneroroccupier. Thelocalplanningauthoritymaytakeaflexibleapproachandmakeajudgementaboutwhetheradditionalpublicationofthedecisionisneededonacasebycasebasis,weighingupfactorssuchasthelevelofpublicinterestintheapplicationandthecostofadditionalnotification.ItisparticularlyimportantthatthelocalplanningauthoritynotifiestheEnvironmentAgencyofanydecisiontakenonaplanningapplicationwheretheAgencyhasobjectedonfloodriskgrounds. InthecaseofanydecisionagainsttheadviceofHSEthereisguidanceonnotifyingtheExecutiveinadvanceofanydecisionbeingissued. Paragraph:019ReferenceID:21b-019-20190315 Revisiondate:15032019Seepreviousversion Whatinformationmustthelocalplanningauthorityincludeontheirwrittendecisionnoticesofplanningapplicationstoapplicants? Theinformationthatthelocalplanningauthoritymustprovideontheirdecisionnoticesissetoutinarticle35oftheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(England)Order2015.Thisincludestherequirement,whereplanningpermissionisrefused,tostateclearlyandpreciselythefullreasonsfortherefusal,specifyingallpoliciesandproposalsinthedevelopmentplanthatarerelevanttothedecision.Whilethelocalplanningauthorityisnolongerrequiredtogivereasonsforapprovalondecisionnotices,itisimportantthattheotherpaperworkthatsupportssuchdecisionsclearlyshowshowthatdecisionhasbeenreached. Thelocalplanningauthoritymustalsoincludeanotificationtotheapplicantwiththedecisionnoticeintheterms(orsubstantiallyintheterms)setoutinSchedule5totheDevelopmentManagementProcedureOrderinthefollowingcases: whereplanningpermissionisgrantedsubjecttoconditions; whereplanningpermissionisrefused; wheretheSecretaryofStatehasgivenadirectionrestrictingthegrantofplanningpermission;and wheretheSecretaryofStateoragovernmentdepartmenthasexpressedtheviewthatpermissionshouldnotbegranted(eitherwhollyorinpart)orshouldbegrantedsubjecttoconditions. Paragraph:020ReferenceID:21b-020-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 Whatisthedecisiondatethatthelocalplanningauthorityshouldputondecisionnotices? Toensureconsistencyinthepreparationofstatistics,thedecisiondatetobeinsertedondecisionnoticesbythelocalplanningauthorityistakenasthedatewhennoticeofthedecisionisissuedtotheapplicant.Thisincludescaseswherethedecisionhasbeentakenbyanofficeroraplanningcommittee. Paragraph:021ReferenceID:21b-021-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 WhenmustalocalplanningauthorityinLondonnotifytheMayorpriortomakingadecision? LocalplanningauthoritiesinLondonarerequiredtonotifytheMayorofLondoniftheyreceiveapplicationsof‘potentialstrategicimportance’forthecapital.ThisprovidestheMayorwithanopportunitytoconsidertheproposal’scompliancewiththespatialdevelopmentstrategy(theLondonPlan),andifnecessarydirectthatheshoulddeterminetheapplicationhimself,orthattheapplicationshouldberefused.WhatconstitutesanapplicationofpotentialstrategicimportanceissetoutintheTownandCountryPlanning(MayorofLondon)Order2008,alongwiththeproceduralrequirementsthatapply. Paragraph:027ReferenceID:21b-027-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 WhendoesthelocalplanningauthorityneedtoconsultwiththeSecretaryofStatepriortotakingadecision? TheTownandCountryPlanning(Consultation)(England)Direction2021setsouttheapplicablecriteriaandarrangementsthatmustbefollowedforconsultingtheSecretaryofStateoncethelocalplanningauthorityhasresolvedtograntplanningpermissionforcertaintypesofdevelopmentthataresetoutinparagraphs3-8oftheDirection.ThepurposeoftheDirectionistogivetheSecretaryofStateanopportunitytoconsiderusingthepowertocallinanapplicationundersection77oftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990.Ifaplanningapplicationiscalledin,thedecisiononwhetherornottograntplanningpermissionwillbetakenbytheSecretaryofState,usuallyafterapublicinquiry,ratherthanthelocalplanningauthority.. Theinformationthatthelocalplanningauthoritymustsubmitwiththeconsultationissetoutinparagraph10oftheDirection.WhereconsultationwiththeSecretaryofStateundertheDirectionisrequired,thelocalplanningauthoritycannotgrantplanningpermissionontheapplicationuntiltheexpiryofaperiodof21daysbeginningwiththedatewhichtheSecretaryofStatenotifiesthelocalplanningauthoritythattheconsultationhasbeenreceivedandhehasalltheinformationnecessarytoconsiderthematter. ThelocalplanningauthoritymustsendconsultationsundertheTownandCountryPlanning(Consultation)(England)Direction2021totheMinistryofHousing,CommunitiesandLocalGovernment’sPlanningCaseworkUnitatthefollowing: [email protected] Informationoncoronavirus AllPlanningCaseworkUnitstaffarefollowingthePrimeMinister’sadviceaimedatlimitingthespreadoftheCovid-19virusandarelargelyworkingfromhome.PleasenotethatduringthistimePCUwillnotbeabletoprocesshardcopycorrespondenceandthereforeallcontactwillneedtobeviaemail.Theunitwilltrytorespondtoyouremailasquicklyaspossiblebutpleaseunderstandthatthismaytakelongerthanusual. TheDirectionisseparatefrom,anddoesnotaffectorprejudice,theSecretaryofState’sgeneralpowerundersection77oftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990todirectthatanyparticularplanningapplicationshouldbecalledinfordeterminationbytheSecretaryofState.InadditiontotherequirementsundertheDirectiontheremayalsobeadditional,locallyapplicablearrangementssetoutinsafeguardingdirections. Paragraph:022ReferenceID:21b-022-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 WhenmustalocalplanningauthorityinLondonnotifytheMayorpriortomakingadecision? LocalplanningauthoritiesinLondonarerequiredtonotifytheMayoriftheyreceiveapplicationsof‘potentialstrategicimportance’forthecapital.ThisprovidestheMayorwithanopportunitytoconsidertheproposal’scompliancewiththespatialdevelopmentstrategy(theLondonPlan),andifnecessarydirectthatheshoulddeterminetheapplicationhimself,orthattheapplicationshouldberefused.WhatconstitutesanapplicationofpotentialstrategicimportanceissetoutintheTownandCountryPlanning(MayorofLondon)Order2008,alongwiththeproceduralrequirementsthatapply. Paragraph:027ReferenceID:21b-027-20140306 Revisiondate:06032014 WhataretheSecretaryofState’spowersofinterventiontocallinaplanningapplication? Section77oftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990empowerstheSecretaryofStatetocallinaplanningapplicationforhisowndetermination.Thepowercanbeexercisedatanytimeuptoplanningpermissionbeingissuedbyalocalplanningauthority.Inconsideringwhethertocallinaplanningapplication,theSecretaryofStateisgenerallyconcernedwithwhethertheapplicationinvolvesplanningissuesofmorethanlocalimportancethatwarrantthedecisionbeingmadebyhimratherthanthelocalplanningauthority.Howevereachcasewillbeconsideredonitsmerits.Thecallinpolicywasupdatedon26October2012inawrittenministerialstatement. AnypersonmayasktheSecretaryofStatetocallinanapplicationforhisowndetermination.ApplicationsmayalsobereferredtotheSecretaryofStatebythelocalplanningauthorityundertheTownandCountryPlanning(Consultation)(England)Direction2021.RequestsforcallinshouldbesenttotheMinistryofHousing,CommunitiesandLocalGovernment’sPlanningCaseworkUnitatthefollowing: [email protected] Informationoncoronavirus AllPlanningCaseworkUnitstaffarefollowingthePrimeMinister’sadviceaimedatlimitingthespreadoftheCovid-19virusandarelargelyworkingfromhome.PleasenotethatduringthistimePCUwillnotbeabletoprocesshardcopycorrespondenceandthereforeallcontactwillneedtobeviaemail.Theunitwilltrytorespondtoyouremailasquicklyaspossiblebutpleaseunderstandthatthismaytakelongerthanusual. Paragraph:024ReferenceID:21b-024-20190315 Revisiondate:15032019Seepreviousversion Published6March2014 Lastupdated24June2021 + showallupdates 24June2021 Paragraph001revisedinrelationtoPublicServiceInfrastructureDevelopment. 15March2019 Amendedparagraphs006,010,014,019and024.Deletedparagraph007. 28July2017 Updatedparagraphs005and007. 6March2014 Firstpublished. Getemailsaboutthispage Contents Printthispage Relatedcontent Improvingplanningperformance:criteriafordesignation Lawfuldevelopmentcertificates Permissioninprinciple Useofplanningconditions Makinganapplication Collection Planningpracticeguidance Explorethetopic Planningsystem Isthispageuseful? Maybe Yesthispageisuseful Nothispageisnotuseful Thankyouforyourfeedback Reportaproblemwiththispage Close HelpusimproveGOV.UK Don’tincludepersonalorfinancialinformationlikeyourNationalInsurancenumberorcreditcarddetails. Thisfieldisforrobotsonly.Pleaseleaveblank Whatwereyoudoing? Whatwentwrong? 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