How planning application decisions are made

Once we have received a planning application the decision process is:

 

 

We send:

 

 

Some larger or important types of application are advertised in the public notices page of local newspapers. These will have a green site notice which must be displayed on the site by law. 

 

 

In most cases planning applications are decided by our planning staff. The Case Officer's work is checked by a more experienced Planning Officer. Notification letters, site notices and lists give the name and telephone number of the Case Officer dealing with the application.

 

Major planning applications are decided by our Planning Committee which meets every 3 weeks. This consists of elected Councillors. Your local Councillors may not be on this Committee but they can attend and take part in discussion - but can not vote. To find out more see how the Planning Committee works.

 

Section 11 of our Constitution lists how different types of applications are decided - for details phone 0118 974 6052 or email democratic.services@wokingham.gov.uk.

 

If the application is decided by Committee any comments will be summarised in the Committee's written report and we will contact you and tell you when the Committee will take place.

 

In some cases minor applications which would normally be decided by planning staff are referred to the Committee by the relevant Ward Councillor. The Ward Councillor needs to specify this within 21 days of the application being received and to give a reason. We call this "listing".

 

If you want to know whether an application will be decided by planning staff or by the Planning Committee contact us. 

 

To discuss if an application might be listed, contact your Ward Councillor during the 21 day consultation period.

 

In a very few cases the final decision on a planning application is taken by the Central Government Minister responsible.

 

 

When the decision is made by the Committee or by our planning staff we produce a decision notice and send it to the applicant or their agent.

 

We write to everyone we consulted and tell them the decision we have made.  We can supply a copy of the decision notice on request for a charge. 

 

If the applicant is unhappy with our decision they can appeal to the independent Planning Inspectorate an independent Government agency. 

 

Disappointed objectors have no right of appeal on an approved planning decision by - however if you believe the process was flawed you can apply to the Local Government Ombudsman.