Why is there a charge?
We aim to determine all planning and other applications within the statutory time periods. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to consider the application as submitted.
If applications are amended to improve the proposal and address the concerns of the case officer, consultees or local residents, this adds time to the process, meaning that the statutory time period cannot be achieved. Therefore it's necessary to have controls over accepting amendments and to charge a fee for this discretionary service.
Amendments also result in additional costs to the Council, which in most cases are not covered by the original planning application fee. The Council consider it necessary therefore to introduce rules with regard to accepting amendments and to charge a fee for this discretionary service.
It is hoped that this charge will also encourage a better standard of application at submission and encourage greater use of the Council’s pre-application advice service.