What's new in Planning

Last updated: 12/06/2013 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

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Updated fees and charges from 1 July 2013

Our fees will be changing from 1 July 2013 and you can view all of the details in our draft updated Fees and Charges Document.

Changes to householder permitted development rights

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 introduced a number of changes from 30 May 2013 including increases to the size limits for single-storey rear extensions and the associated neighbour consultation scheme.  View our summary of the changes or visit the Planning Portal website for more information.  We also have information on permitted development in general.

Customer Focus Survey

Have you used the Planning and regeneration Service recently?

We want your feedback

We would really like to hear your views on the service we provided as we are always looking to improve what we do. To help you give us feedback we have set up a short online customer focus survey. 

Your views are very important to us and the feedback received from the survey will be used to inform us of changes and improvements required to areas of the Service you have identified in your feedback.

Please take the time to complete the survey so that we can ensure the services we provide meets the customers needs.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area

St Erth Parish Council is producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the St Erth area. The first formal stage of the process requires the Council to apply to Cornwall Council for the Neighbourhood Area to be formally designated. St Erth have applied to Cornwall Council to designate the parish of St Erth as a Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on this application. Consultation will run between 21 March and 9 May 2013.  For more information, and details of how to comment, select the following link: St Erth Neighbourhood Plan.

Local Plan Latest News...

May 2013 - Local Plan Update: Representations made during the Local Plan: Strategic Policies Pre Submission Version consultation period are now available on our Representations page.

March 2013 - Local Plan Update: the Local Plan: Strategic Policies Pre Submission Version consultation ran between the 11th March and the 22nd April 2013. We also consulted on the Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule, the Gypsy and Travelling Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan and town frameworks for Bodmin and Helston at the same time.

It will not now be possible to report the consultation results to the current Council before the Council elections in May 2013. This means that the timetable for subsequent stages of the Local Plan will be delayed until the new Council can consider the responses to consultation.

Newquay Cornwall Airport Business Enterprise Zone - Local Development Order (LDO) - consultation 2 to 31 January 2013

As part of the simplified planning framework for the Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Newquay Cornwall Airport, Cornwall Council are proposing a Local Development Order.

The order is out for formal consultation between 2 January and 31 January 2013. However the documentation is available and comments can be submitted from
21 December 2012. 

Further information and all consultation documents.

Cornwall Design Guide Consultation

The Cornwall Design Guide goes out for consultation on 5 December 2012 until 16 January 2013. The Design Guide and a link to the survey are available on the Cornwall Design Guide Consultation page.

Applications for the designation of a Neighbourhood Areas

We have received three applications to designate Neighbourhood Areas in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012. The applications are from Bude-Stratton, the Rame Peninsula and Egloshayle, St Breock and Wadebridge.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on these applications. You can find out more information by following the links below:

• Bude-Stratton Neighbourhood Plan
• The Rame Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan
• Egloshayle, St Breock and Wadebridge Neighbourhood Plan 

Increase in planning fees

There will be a 15% increase to planning application fees in England commencing on 22 November 2012.

Further information can be found on the Planning Portal website, together with a copy of the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012.

Change to reception facilities for planning, land charges and building control in Bodmin

From 1 November 2012 face to face enquiries relating to planning, enforcement, land charges and building control services should be made at the Library, Lower Bore Street, Bodmin unless an appointment with an officer has been made.  These new arrangements arise from the relocation of the One Stop Shop from Barn Lane to the Library in Bodmin.  See Library opening times.  NB closed on a Thursday.

If an appointment has been made, the customer will need to go to the Barn Lane offices and use the new intercom system.

The key services that we deliver will continue to be available.  Customers will still be able to access the following services from the Library:

• View current planning applications (public registers) and historic planning information –online using the public computers
• Be signposted to the appropriate planning, enforcement, land charges or building control officer to make an appointment
• Receive basic face to face general planning advice
• Pick up planning or building control application forms
• Pick up ‘Do I need permission’ or ‘Pre-application advice’ forms
• Drop in a planning or building control application
• Access planning policies on the Council’s website – online using the public computers
• View enforcement case progress - online using the public computers

Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area

Saltash Town Council is producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the Saltash area. The first formal stage of the process requires the Council to apply to Cornwall Council for the Neighbourhood Area to be formally designated. Saltash have applied to Cornwall Council to designate the parishes of Saltash as a Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, which came into force on Friday 6 April 2012.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on this application. Consultation will run between 2nd November and 14th December 2012. For more information, and details of how to comment, select the following link: Saltash Neighbourhood Plan.

Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area

Padstow Town Council is producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the Padstow area. The first formal stage of the process requires the Council to apply to Cornwall Council for the Neighbourhood Area to be formally designated. Padstow have applied to Cornwall Council to designate the parish of Padstow as a Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, which came into force on Friday 6 April 2012.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on this application. Consultation will run between 2nd November and 14th December 2012. For more information, and details of how to comment, select the following link: Padstow Neighbourhood Plan.

Empty property loan

Competitive finance to help bring empty properties back into habitable use

The issue of empty properties and the wasted resource they represent is the subject of increased national and local awareness and action.

Our empty property strategy includes a range of initiatives aimed at addressing the issue, including encouraging advice, access to leasing schemes and financial assistance, and in some cases formal enforcement action (usually as a last resort, for example through the enforced sale or compulsory purchase of properties, where other options have failed).

Many empty properties are likely to be difficult to mortgage through conventional lenders, and it is our aim to provide assistance in those circumstances.

For further information you can view our Empty property loan leaflet our empty properties page or email emptyhomes@cornwall.gov.uk.

Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area

St Blaise Parish Council is producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the St Blaise area. The first formal stage of the process requires the Council to apply to Cornwall Council for the Neighbourhood Area to be formally designated. St Blaise have applied to Cornwall Council to designate the parish of St Blaise as a Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, which came into force on Friday 6 April 2012.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on this application. Consultation will run between 12th October and 23rd November 2012. For more information, and details of how to comment, select the following link: St Blaise Neighbourhood Plan.

Designation of a Neighbourhood Area - Truro and Kenwyn  

Cornwall Council has designated the Truro and Kenwyn Neighbourhood Area following public consultation which took place between Thursday 7th June and Thursday 19th July 2012. For more information about the Truro and Kenwyn Neighbourhood Plan please follow the following link: Truro and Kenwyn Neighbourhood Plan.

Planning and Regneneration Customer Care Standards

The service has now put together a set of customer care standards for the services it delivers. We are committed to achieving the targets that we have set out in the Planning and Regeneration Service Customer Care Standards document.

Increase in planning fees

Planning fees are set to rise nationally by 15% this Autumn (with a date yet to be confirmed). 

Further information can be found on the Planning Portal website, together with a copy of the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Government has announced that it is considering relaxing planning rules in an effort "to boost the economy"

The Government intends carrying out consultations before bringing in any changes which may include:

• rules relating to the expansion of shops and offices
• measures to boost house building and the provision of affordable homes
• introducing a three-year period within which householders would be allowed to build larger extensions without the need to apply for planning permission

Further information can be found on the BBC News website 

Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area

The St Minver Highlands and St Minver Lowlands Parish Councils are jointly producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the St Minver area. The first formal stage of the process requires the Councils to apply to Cornwall Council for the Neighbourhood Area to be formally designated. The St Minver Highlands and St Minver Lowlands Parish Councils have applied to Cornwall Council to designate the parishes of St Minver Highlands and St Minver Lowlands (jointly known as St Minver) as a Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, which came into force on Friday 6 April 2012.

The Council is consulting residents and other interested stakeholders on this application. Consultation will run between 7th September and 26th October  2012. For more information, and details of how to comment, select the following link: St Minver Neighbourhood Plan.

Cornwall Council's Planning and Regeneration Service put under the peer review spotlight

Cornwall Council’s Planning and Regeneration Service invited a Local Government Association (LGA) Planning Peer Challenge Team to visit and assess what the department does well and where it can improve. The peer challenge team was made up of planning professionals and councillors from other local authorities. The team spoke to a wide range of stakeholders, partner organisations, members and staff.

The Peer Challenge Team’s report details their findings, contains a number of recommendations and identifies a series of strengths and areas for consideration. The Planning and Regeneration Service is using the findings of the report to put together an action plan to work on the recommendations. A conference has already taken place with members to discuss the findings specifically relating to the Council’s Planning Committees to discuss areas of opportunity and improvement.

Cornwall Council Planning Peer Challenge Report 

Public Consultation for Carluddon A391 road improvement and technology park now open

You are invited to make comments on this proposal from 20th August to 1st October. Further information and detail on how to comment can be found on the major planning projects pages.

Comments invited on Draft Charlestown Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan is now closed.

Comments from the public were sought by 22nd June 2012.  Further information can be found at Charlestown Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan.

St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Area Regeneration Plan public consultation is now closed

Comments and submissions are now being assessed, and a review of these will be available on the Regeneration Plan page by September 2012. 

New tree application submission guide

For detailed advice on what is required to submit an application for works to a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or to trees in a Conservation Area. we now have a new guide to help you submit a better application - Tree application submission guide.

Did you know about the range of services our local authority building control service can provide?

We can work with businesses and householders across Cornwall to help ensure your project runs smoothly and efficiently through the design, approval and construction processes. We also provide free building regulation pre-application advice, if required. Find out why you should choose local authority building control.

Planning performance agreement charter

Planning Performance Agreements (PPA's) are a framework for local authorities and applicants to agree how development proposals should be managed through the planning process. The planning and regeneration service has updated its approach to managing complex proposals for those who require ongoing advice to which there are a number of benefits. Please select the following link to access the updated planning performance agreement charter.

Validation checking service

The planning and regeneration service now provides an optional validation checking service for the submission of planning applications (as from 02 April 2012). This service can help to provide the speedy registration of your planning application. More details can be found via the following link: validation checking service.

Review of Mineral Planning Permissions (ROMPS) 

A review of mineral planning permissions is taking place to ensure that no environmental damage is taking place as a result of mining.  If you own any land with planning permission for mining operations or own mineral rights in the St Austell china clay area you need to submit a planning application to us before February 2013 to review the existing permissions. 

Introduction of fees for pre-application services

From 31 January 2012 the council introduced fees for its pre-application services. The fees were brought in for budgetary reasons, and to provide a more consistent service with acceptable response times. This follows the consultation process in October and November in 2011. In addition to this, details of pre-application enquiries will now be available via our online planning register.

Pre-application planning advice requires a completed form and fee (if applicable) to be submitted in-line with the schedule of fees. For more information please visit the Pre-application planning and building control advice page.

Changes affecting householder planning and tree applications in Central 1 (former Carrick area)

All householder planning and tree applications for West 1, West 2 and Central 1 will be dealt with by the Householder Team who are based at Camborne (as from 16 January 2012). All hard copy (paper) applications will need to be sent to:

The Householder Team
Planning and Regeneration
Camborne One Stop Shop
Dolcoath Avenue
Camborne
TR14 8SX

All other applications will continue to be dealt with by the Development Management Team based at the Truro office. 

Development Brief for Land North of A390 at Truro/Threemilestone

Guidance on how land to the north of the A390 in Truro could be developed has been adopted by the Council’s Cabinet and is now available for use in determining planning applications. The document is available here: Development Brief.

Local Development Order for Penzance

Penzance Town Council is undertaking a pilot project to simplify planning controls for windows and doors, specifically relating to the Lescudjack and the Battlefields area. Please see the following link for more information on the pilot project: Penzance Local Development Order

Important information - transfer of private drains

On 1 October 2011, the responsibility for many private sewers and lateral drains which drain to a public sewer and extend beyond your property boundary transferred to water and sewerage companies. This change in legislation may effect your building regulation application and you are advised to contact South West Water prior to making an application or starting work. Further information is available on the South West Water website.

Training for Local Councils

The local council planning training programme for 2011/2012 together with other information can be accessed here: planning training for local councils.

Cornwall Renewable Energy Show

The Cornwall Renewable Energy Show 2011 was held at the Gaia Centre, Delabole on Thursday 28 July (Industry and Business) and Friday 29 July (Community and Households). To view more information about the event please select the following link: Cornwall renewable energy show.

Guide on householder permitted development rights

The council has produced a guide to help walk you through the legislation and determine whether or not you will need to make a planning application. For more information, please access the following link: Householder guidance.

Cornwall design review panel

Cornwall Council started a design service from May 2011. The Cornwall design review panel (CDRP) will draw on a pool of design expertise from both within and outside of the Council. It will operate independently from the development management function of the planning authority to assess a range of new development schemes. Select this link for more information: Cornwall design review panel.

Householder submissions guide

This guide is to help applicants and agents to submit a perfect householder planning application. Within this guide are details of which documents are required to accompany an application, when they are required and what each document is. For more information and to download the guide, please select this link: Householder guidance.  

Accredited agents scheme

The council now runs an accredited agents scheme for householder developments applications. This is initially in West Cornwall however it is likely to be rolled out to the rest of Cornwall in 2012. Further details are available here: Accredited agents scheme.