Making a Planning Application - A Summary of the Process

The following steps are the stages gone through in order to process your planning application.

To find out how to make a planning application follow the link to on-line forms.

Reception

When the planning application is received, its details are recorded onto our computer system. 

Validation

The application then goes through the "booking-in" stage, where it is looked at by the Development Control Technicians. This is one of the most important stages to ensure that we have sufficient information to process the application further.

This involves checking the forms, plans and the planning fee to make sure the application is complete and valid. If there are any problems the application is unlikely to progress until the necessary details are requested and received.

If the application is complete it is confirmed as valid and formally registered, given a reference number and an acknowledgement letter is sent to the applicant (or agent if there is one). This states that we have 8 weeks (13 weeks for larger/complex applications) to determine the application and that if it is not decided in this period you have a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. It will also give a formal description of your proposal. A receipt for any planning fee is also issued at this stage.

Consultation

The application is then advertised and internal/external consultations are carried out. A weekly list of all applications is also published in the Worthing Herald. The occupiers of properties immediately adjacent to the site are consulted by letter and are normally given 3 weeks to submit comments on the proposal (if they wish). Any written comments received are available for anyone to see.

Consideration

After the consultation period has ended a Planning Officer will deal with your application ("the case officer"). The name of the officer will be on the acknowledgement letter and he/she will be your contact should you have any queries about your application's progress.

Usually, the Planning Officer will make a site visit to assess the proposal. The site may be viewed from neighbours' property or only from the road. Should it be necessary to enter your property, the officer will produce an identity card. If no one is in, then the case officer may leave a card saying that a call has been made. Sometimes a site appointment may have to be arranged.

Occasionally, the officer may have to revisit the site, for example, to consider a matter which is raised by a neighbour or, where your proposal is to be decided by the Development Control Committee, to video your property.

Recommendation

After considering all issues and any written comments received, the Officer will make a recommendation on whether planning permission should be granted or refused.Your application will be decided in one of two ways. These are:

Making A Decision

Delegated Decisions

The majority of smaller or non-controversial applications are decided in this way. These applications are determined by the Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing under powers delegated to him by the Council.

The Development Control Committee

This decision is made by the elected Members of the Committee, which sits every 3 weeks. Applications decided by the Committee are usually major ones or those that are contentious or have objections raised from various sources, including from members of the public. Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing prepares a report for the Committee which is normally available 5 working days before the meeting and may be inspected by anyone. The Committee also has a video presentation which includes views of the site and its immediate surroundings. Anyone may attend the Committee meetings and listen to the debate, but they are not permitted to speak.

Once the application is decided a decision notice is produced (usually within 2 days), which is sent to you, or your agent, as appropriate.

Planning Appeal

If your application is approved but you are concerned about one or more of the conditions on the approval, or if your application is refused, you have a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Advice on how and when to appeal is included with the decision notice. If you intend to appeal, it is advisable to speak to the planning officer beforehand in case there is a way forward to resolve the problem. This would not prejudice your rights on the appeal. Please see our Planning Appeals page for more information.

Setting Ourselves Standards

We have an adopted Code of Practice for Processing Planning Applications, a copy of which is also available on request at our Reception Desk. This sets targets for the Council to meet. We also have an adopted Code of Practice for the Publicity of Planning Applications. This advises how and under what circumstances we will notify the public. We generally publicise beyond the minimum statutory requirements. Again a copy is available from our Reception Desk.

Notes

This advice note only relates to planning applications. If your proposal affects a listed building, you may need to submit a separate application for listed building consent. If in doubt, please contact one of the Planning Officers or Development Control Technicians. Similarly, for certain works, you may need Building Regulations approval that is separate from planning control.

THIS ADVICE IS AVAILABLE AS A LARGE PRINT LEAFLET

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