Processing applications

Each application has to be legally valid, contain clear plans and be accompanied by the correct fee.

All applications are logged in the Planning Register, which is available for public inspection at our offices in Cambourne. Parish Councils, neighbours and other relevant organisations are consulted on applications. Site and Press Notices may also be displayed or published.

A planning officer will inspect the site. From the examination of the site, site history, relevant policies and the results of consultations, a recommendation is made.

The majority of planning applications take less than eight weeks to process but the more complicated may take up to 13 weeks or more in a minority of cases.

The Decision

The Decision will either be made by Planning Committee, which comprises a body of elected Councillors, or by the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities and his senior officers, under powers delegated to them through the Council's adopted protocols.

The application will either be approved, with or without conditions, or refused. A written notice of the decision is sent to the applicant and this includes notes on the right to appeal.

Planning Appeals

An applicant may appeal against a refusal of planning permission, a condition of any approval or if a decision has not been made within a specified timescale (normally 8 weeks). An appeal may be considered by a Government Inspector at a public inquiry, informal hearing or by written representations. Visit the Appeals page for more information of the process.

Enforcement

Development undertaken without the necessary permission can result in the Council serving an Enforcement Notice. This is a discretionary power where negotiation to achieve an acceptable solution has failed. A notice is not effective until any appeal lodged against it has been determined. Failure to comply with a notice is an offence.

There are also, other powers available to the Council to remedy unauthorised and unacceptable development.

Visit the enforcement section for more information.

Organisation

Planning applications and related work are distributed between four area teams, each led by an Area Planning Officer. These areas are defined on the map of the District planning areas.