Planning advice
If you are in any doubt about whether you need to apply for
planning permission, you should consult the Planning
Division. Advice can be obtained from the
Planning
Help desk on 01270 537502 or 537503.
Permitted Development
Enquiries - Charging
Charges will apply to any enquiries received on or after 1st
April 2008.
What enquiries do the charges apply to?
The charges apply to all enquiries relating to whether planning
permission or advertisement consent is required for a proposed
development, including all householder development.
How much will it cost?
There is a standard charge of £35
per enquiry. Cheques should be made payable to Crewe and Nantwich
Borough Council.
Enquiries relating to householder development will
only be accepted on the standard form available
for download from the table below or from the Planning
Helpdesk.
Other enquiries should be
made by letter or e-mail to Planning@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
giving as much detail as possible about the proposals.
The fee must be provided with the enquiry.
Your enquiry will be passed on to a customer advisor or
planner who will answer your query in 21
working days.
The
Planning
Portal has useful tools which allow you to work out
whether you need planning permission.
For a formal ruling you (or your
adviser) can apply, on payment of a fee, for a "lawful development
certificate" by writing to the council with details of the work you
want to carry out.
RADICAL NEW PLANNING RULES FOR HOME
IMPROVEMENTS
From the 1st October 2008, new
planning regulations will come into force, which mean that many
extensions which have previously required planning permission can
now be constructed without the need to apply to the Local
Authority. However, some proposals which were previously “permitted
development” will now require planning permission, including, for
example, all conservatories or rear extensions over 3m in
length.
As well as new size limits for extensions and
roof alterations, the new regulations prevent householders from
installing driveways, parking areas and hard standings of more than
5 square metres in area, in their front gardens, without planning
permission, unless they have permeable surfaces. New controls have
also been introduced for balconies, verandas and decking.
The Planning Portal provides information
relating to the need for planning permission on their web page at
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/.
However, home owners should be aware that the
Planning Portal is unable to give specific advice relating to
individual properties. For example, it does not contain information
on whether or not a property is Listed, located within a
Conservation Area or subject to restrictive conditions attached to
previous planning permissions.
Therefore, householders who are considering
undertaking works to their properties are advised to use the
Council’s Permitted Development Enquiry Service which will provide
written confirmation of whether or not planning permission is
required, which is often required by purchaser’s solicitors. The
current fee for this service is £35 and an application form can be
downloaded here.
The Planning System
The planning system provides society with a way of controlling
how we use land, what we build and where we build it. Local
councils prepare and adopt documents called development plans,
consisting of maps and written policies, to show where and in what
quantity various types of development will be permitted.
The
Structure Plan sets out the broad
planning strategy for Cheshire. It contains policies on the amount
and general location of land for new homes, businesses, shops and
leisure facilities. It sets out measures and schemes to protect and
enhance Cheshire's environment, and to improve its transport
network. For more information visit the
Cheshire
County Council's web site.
The Replacement
Local Plan sets out detailed
land use policies and earmarks specific sites for
development.
The Borough Council also administers a development
control system to make sure that proposed development conforms to
the plan.
The planning system helps to match our need for uses of land
and buildings such as homes, offices, factories and schools with
our wish to protect and improve the environment. Planners must
constantly try to balance conservation of both the built and the
natural environment with development that is necessary for economic
prosperity or social need. They try to make sure that new
development is environmentally sustainable. This means that it
meets our present needs without affecting the ability of future
generations to meet theirs.