How Planning Decisions are Made

3rd July 2017

What determines whether planning permission is given or refused?

Some elements are not relevant to planning, but it is difficult to specify. However, where possible, all applications should relate in some way to the property purpose or its current development.

The following summaries factors affecting planning decisions and factors that should not affect planning decisions:

Affecting planning decision:

Government planning advice
Structure Plan policy
Local Plan policy
Informal council guidance
Special designations (Green Belt, Conservation Area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty/National Scenic Area)
Size and shape of site
Size and position of buildings
Relationship to other property
Pattern of Development
Site layout
Amount of garden area
Trees and hedges
Parking and turning space
Drainage
Overlooking and over shadowing
Noise and disturbance
Blocking adjoining windows
Character of area
Affect on setting
Design and appearance
Affect on countryside
Type of materials
Compatible with existing building
Public rights of way
Rights of light

Should not affect planning decision:

Structural stability
Stability of adjoining buildings
Safety of materials
Boundary and neighbour disputes
Private right of way
Access to maintain other property
Personal circumstances
Identity of applicant
How long applicant lived in area
Motives of applicant
Future intentions
Financial viability
Loss of private views
Values of property
Supervision and standard of work
Disruption during construction
Precedent
Benefits unrelated to proposal

Objections from local residents put pressure on local council’s, but should not be the sole reason for refusal. However, what would be considered an acceptable planning application could be refused due to local residents objections.

Sanctions are in place to monitor councils. Should an application be unreasonably refused, councils could be forced to pay the applicant’s cost of going to appeal.

In extreme and very rare cases, it has been known for council individuals to accept monitory gifts or favours in return for their support. This is naturally a criminal offence and prosecutions are made from time to time. Planning permission can add immense value to land, so the possibility will always be present.

The law stipulates the basis for deciding planning applications. Approved planning policies set out in development plans must follow by all councils and also inspectors on appeal unless ‘material considerations’ indicate otherwise.

Material considerations, although not limited to, can include:

Overlooking/loss of privacy
Loss of light or overshadowing
Parking
Highway safety
Traffic
Noise
Effect on listed building and conservation area
Layout and density of building
Design, appearance and materials
Government policy
Disabled persons’ access
Proposals in the Development Plan
Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
Nature conservation

Roll of Planning Policies

Structure Plans and Local Plans documents set out planning policies. Welsh and English councils have Unitary Development Plans (UPDs) and contained in one document. We find it simpler to use the term ‘Local Plan’. Structure Plans are drawn up by county councils or by groups of unitary councils and cover whole county areas. This includes new building, expanding towns and protection of the countryside.

Local Plan policies can be general and apply throughout the area (standards for building design). They can relate to specific areas such as Conservation Areas and apply to developments such as house extensions. Local Plans give guidance of how a site should be developed (for example new homes).

Sections covered in Local Plan policies are relevant to residential developments and likely to be included within:

Housing – amount and location of new housing, housing types, design and conversions
Build Environment – new buildings, extensions and alterations, landscaping
Conservation – building design and materials, building in Conservation Areas, work on Listed Buildings
Countryside – restraint on building outside urban areas, building in Green Belts, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Scenic Areas, agricultural dwellings

An application will be primarily judged through the Policies within the Structure and Local Plan (UPD). However, this is not always as simple as it might be and policies can contradict each other, point in different directions and be open to different interpretations. Planning policies are the starting point for decisions, but as we have already advised, material considerations have to be taken into account.

Government Policy and Advice on Planning

The government has it own national planning policies set out in circulars and in England, Planning Policy Guidance Notes. Scotland is National Planning Policy Guidelines and Planning Advice Notes. Northern Ireland, Planning Policy Statements and Policy Guidance Advice Notes. Technical Advice Notes applies to Wales.

Councils’ informal planning policy

Usually, councils will produce other statements and leaflets setting out their views and guidance. This is in addition to Structure and Local Plans. This may include advice on design and layout, trees and development or car parking and access. This advice can be helpful, but does not have the same status as Local Plan policies. They are mainly intended to give guidance and should not be applied rigidly by councils.

Effects of special designations

Special designations are within planning and can apply to individual buildings or areas of land. A majority will be:

Conservation Areas – parts of town or villages with special historic or architectural character
Listed Buildings – individual buildings or structures with particular historic or architectural merit
Tree Preservation Orders – protection given to individual trees, groups of trees or whole woodlands
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Scenic Areas in Scotland – areas of particularly attractive countryside.

A council would need to know how a development would impact on these designated areas.

Influence of Planning History

Decisions can be influenced either way if there are previous planning applications or existing buildings and uses on the site.

If previous permissions have been granted, refusal should not be an issue. Unless a building has historic or architectural importance, a replacement will generally be granted.

Granting planning permission for something that replaces an undesirable site would provide a helpful solution. However, if your request is similar to previous planning permissions that have been refused, it is unlikely to succeed. Permissions for a replacement or extension larger than the existing building can also be restricted.

Appeals, although not always clear, are significant if an inspector’s decision is disputed. Explanations from previous refusal/s or permissions granted will listed. Versions are often disputed between applicants and councils.