The Planning and Housing Service have a number of teams who deal with different areas of planning and housing. You can see how this Service and the Local Planning Authority works using these structure diagrams (last update July 2026):
You can find more information on Housing team functions on our main Housing page.
You can contact officers by email. If you wish to speak to an officer, you can:
call a mobile number
leave a message on office landline numbers
Officers can pick up messages on office numbers using Microsoft Teams.
You can find out more about the planning service teams using the links below.
Land Charges
What we do
A local land charge is a restriction on a piece of land or property that can:
limit its use or
bind the owner to a payment of a sum of money.
The land charges team search the land charges register for potential purchasers of properties and land.
Find out more about local land charges.
Planning Policy
What we do
Planning Policy helps shape the future of Cornwall. We prepare plans and guidance that help decide where new homes, jobs, services and infrastructure should go. We also help protect our environment, historic places and local character. We give people the chance to have their say on planning for the future.
We are preparing the Cornwall Local Plan 2050 to guide future growth and development
We support neighbourhood planning so communities can help shape their local area
We run planning consultations and ask for views on proposed policies and plans
We produce planning guidance and evidence to support decision-making
We help to make sure development is sustainable and meets Cornwall's needs
Provide planning policies used to help decide planning applications
Find out more about the Cornwall Local Plan 2050 and Neighbourhood Planning
Sustainable Development
What we do
Lead on spatial strategies for our towns. These will contribute to Planning Policy.
Support Place Shaping activity in larger communities
Work with developers and land owners on strategic development opportunities
Attract funding for Cornwall to deliver major schemes
Find out more about spatial planning
Planning Enforcement and Appeals
What we do
Investigate complaints about suspected breaches of planning
Take enforcement action against breaches of planning
Deal with appeals against decisions
Apply for appeal costs awards
Communicate learning from appeal decisions
Monitor and enforce on minerals and waste sites
Find out more about planning enforcement.
Development Management
We work in an area team structure of 8 planning teams and Cornwall-wide specialists. Find out more about the area planning teams.
What we do
We provide pre-application advice and decide planning and related applications.
We deal with the following types of planning applications:
Minor applications
Major applications (more than 10 dwellings or a floor space of more than 1,000 square metres)
Householder applications (extensions, accesses, outbuildings, renewables and alterations to a property)
Listed Building consents
Certificates of Lawfulness
Tree Preservation Orders
Works to trees in a conservation area
Minor amendments
Discharge of conditions
Minerals and waste applications
Planning officers decide most applications using delegated permissions. The Planning Committees deal with the most complex and contentious applications.
Find out more about planning advice and guidance and Planning Committees.
Planning Support
What we do
Support the development management teams in processing planning applications
Validate and register applications
Handle general planning enquiries
Process history searches