Planning Enquiries

As part of the Development Management approach to planning practice in Worcestershire, Redditch Borough Council is able to provide you with advice and information on matters relating to planning prior to a planning application being submitted.

We strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to seek our advice prior to submitting an application, as we believe there are considerable benefits:

• It can save you time in submitting an application for your proposed development, when one is not required;
• It will assist you in preparing proposals for formal submission which, providing you have taken our advice fully into account, are likely to be handled more quickly and smoothly;
• It may lead to a reduction in time spent by your professional advisors in working up proposals;
• It gives you an opportunity to understand how policies will be applied to your development;
• It can identify at an early stage where there is a need for specialist input, for example on matters relating to listed buildings, trees, landscape, noise, transport, contaminated land, ecology and archaeology;

Types of Planning Enquiries

Permitted Development Enquiries

Permitted development enables some limited works or development to be carried out at some properties or types of buildings, without the need to expressly apply for planning permission. This right is granted by Statute and is subject to some conditions and limitations.

It is often the interpretation of these conditions which require the input of a professional Planning Officer to determine whether or not you need to move to the next stage of formally applying for planning permission.

Advice is available on a range of small scale projects (erecting sheds, extending your dwelling, converting your attic) from the planning portal http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/ 

However if you wish to clarify whether your proposal benefits from permitted development rights, then you should submit a ‘Permitted Development Enquiry’ to us, for which we do have a form:

Permitted Development Enquiry Form 

Pre Application Enquiries

If you need to apply for planning permission, but wish to seek advice on the acceptability of your proposals, you may seek pre-application advice. This service is intended to provide an indication of whether your proposal is likely to gain planning permission or not, and what you would need to submit with any application that you make.

For smaller schemes, this is a simple process that can be done through the exchange of correspondence, although if necessary a meeting can be held at the Council House or Town Hall. For larger schemes, meetings may well be necessary, and the discussions can include several rounds of meetings.

There is a form which you can complete and send to us along with all the other requirements for Pre Application Enquiries, which are set out in the Planning Enquiry Leaflet below.

Pre Application Enquiry Form

Planning Enquiry Charges

In order for the Council to be able to sustain and improve its level of service, a range of charges have been introduced.Details of these charges, along with further information on our Planning Enquiry Service are set out in the leaflet below:

Planning Enquiry Leaflet 

Planning Enquiry Fees 

Please Note: From the 1st April 2012 the charges for planning enquiries have increased as set out in the Planing Enquiry Fees document above. Also from 1st April 2012 there will be an additional cost for highways advice associated with larger (i.e. Major) schemes .

For further information regarding our Planning Enquiry procedures, please contact the Development Management Team at Redditch Borough Council:

developmentcontrol@redditchbc.gov.uk

01527 534062