Planning Applications Service Charter
This section provides information about the Council's charter for its planning applications service.
In this charter, we set out the standards we have set ourselves to process planning applications.
It also contains details of how we publish information on our performance and how applicants can help get the best out of the service.
This charter is one of four covering services delivered by the Council's Building and Development Services Unit. The others cover enforcing planning control, building control and protection of trees and landscape.
Main features of the service
- Providing advice to potential applicants on the need for planning permission and whether an application is likely to be successful
- Processing planning applications
- Seeking the views of neighbours and other interested parties on proposals
- Representing the Council in any appeals against its planning decisions
- Monitoring development to make sure it complies with the terms of planning permission
Service Statistics 2002
- The planning applications team consists of 17 officers (not all full-time)
- It received 2,390 applications, of which 1,777 were planning applications
- 244 applications were reported to Planning Committee
- The planning applications team represented the Council in 128 appeals which were lodged
- Over 350 written enquiries were handled
If you have queries on planning matters
1. We will provide general planning advice, through a duty planning officer, at Reigate Town Hall between 9am and 12 noon on working days
2. We will provide general planning advice by telephone between 8.45am and 5pm on working days (see detailed response targets below)
If you make a planning application
3. We will tell you if your application is invalid and request any necessary additional information within 3 working days of receipt
4. We will register valid applications within 3 working days of receipt
5. We will inspect the application site within 28 days of registering your application
6. We will determine 50% of major applications within 13 weeks of registration
7. We will determine 55% of minor applications within 8 weeks of registration
8. We will determine 70% of other applications within 8 weeks of registration
9. We will issue your decision notice within 2 working days of the decision
10. If your application is refused or granted subject to conditions we will inform you of your right of appeal
If someone else makes an application which we think may affect you
11. We will write to inform immediate neighbours of an application within 3 working days of validation
12. We will make copies of the application available for inspection at the Town Hall and Help Shops within 5 working days of registration
13. We will produce a weekly list of new applications and decisions every Thursday (this may vary at Christmas and New year) and publish it at Reigate Town Hall, in libraries and Help Shops and on this website.
If an appeal is made against the Council's decision
14. We will:
- notify interested parties within 5 working days of the start date
- send questionnaires to the Planning Inspectorate within 14 working days of the start date
- send our statements of case to the Planning Inspectorate within 6 weeks of the start date
- exchange proofs of evidence with the appellant and the Planning Inspectorate at least 4 weeks before a public inquiry
General
15. We will answer telephone calls on average within 6 seconds on working days (8.45am- 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am-4.45pm on Fridays)
16. We will reply to letters within 5 working days of receipt, or acknowledge if more time is needed to investigate the matters
17. We will investigate any complaints about the service that we deliver within 14 working days of receipt, or if we need more time, say how much more time before the 14 days are up
How will you know we have achieved these targets?
18. We will review performance against these targets and we will publish the results in the reception at Reigate Town Hall, at help Shops within the Borough and on the Council's website.
Any changes in performance will be reported to and discussed with the Director of Policy and Environment.
Our performance against selected targets may be published annually in the Council's Best Value Performance Plan
How you can help?
To help us reduce delays in processing your application
- Check the Council's guidance notes on submitting an application
- If you believe that the application is complex or likely to be controversial, consider obtaining advice from a professional agent or request a pre-application discussion with a planning officer
- Ensure that you have correctly filled in the application form and enclosed all necessary plans and the correct application fee
To ensure you get a response to your enquiry
- Contact one of the Help Shops or the Council's Advice Centre (01737 276262) where an adviser can answer the majority of queries about the progress of an application
PLEASE NOTE
"Major" applications comprise considered by the Borough Council comprise all planning applications for
(a) residential development
(i) to create 10 or more units or
(ii) on land of more than 0.5 hectares in area where the number of units is not known to be 10 or more; and
(b) all other development where
(i) the floor space created would be 1,000 square metres or more or the site area is 1 hectare or more.
"Minor" applications are all applications for planning permission smaller than the "major" definition, excluding changes of use and householder development
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
See Also
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
