Buxton Civic Association Home | Estate | News & Events | Ring of Trees | Management Structure | Planning | Gallery | Join Us | Volunteer | Contact |
The Planning Process It is the duty of the Planning Authority to find the balance between the need or desire to undertake new development and the protection of the existing amenities and character of each neighbourhood. Judgements are made on the basis of Government planning guidance and local planning policy. This control applies not only to new buildings but also to extensions, alterations and what the land or building is used for. The Planning Authority for Buxton is the High Peak Borough Council. Their local policy is contained in a package of documents called the Local Development Framework (LDF) and in the High Peak Local Plan (which pre-dates the LDF and is gradually being superseded as new documents are adopted). Anyone proposing to develop land or buildings has to apply for Planning Permission unless the change is so small that it is exempted as a Permitted development. Details of the application process are given on the High Peak Borough Council website: http://planning.highpeak.gov.uk/portal/ This link will take you to the Planning Portal where lots of information is available on a shared basis with other councils. It is possible to apply for Planning Permission online or download and print the necessary forms. Once an application is received it will be identified by a number in the form HPK/20xx/xxxx, where the centre section is the year. If a close neighbour of yours puts in a Planning Application you should get a letter notifying you that they have. You will then be able to look up the details on the website or call at the Town Hall to see the application on paper. The Planning Portal also offers Weekly lists of both the applications received and the decisions made. It also gives a separate listing of all current applications for Major Developments. These lists are borough wide and make the monitoring of applications very easy. Some neighbourhoods are identified for individual treatment. Examples of these are:
The Planning Authority has to take into account the views of individual residents and Stakeholder Groups, like BCA. For ordinary Planning Applications, there is only a short period for the receipt of comments or objections because of the Government requirement to make decisions quickly. For major developments the process is much longer. The pros and cons of each application are assessed by paid Planning Officers who may give or withhold Planning Permission under their Delegated powers. In more complex cases, the officers will prepare a report for the elected Councillors to make a decision at the Planning Committee. The committee meetings are open to the public and may permit applicants and objectors to address them briefly. A final note about Building Control This is a separate process from Planning. It is intended to ensure that construction work is of a sound standard and that it complies with all the legal requirements for safety, energy efficiency etc (known as the "Building Regulations"). Putting a new toilet in your home or re-roofing it does not need Planning Permission but must have Building Control approval. When Electricians and Gas Fitters complete their work they should issue a certificate to confirm that their installation complies with the Building Regulations. |
Buxton Civic Association Ltd, A company registered in England & Wales with Company Number 944439. |