Guidance for Applicants and Agents

Please find listed below useful information and links to sites which provide guidance on various issues and planning constraints which may need to be addressed as part of a planning application.

The Planning Portal

The Planning Portal is an online resource for up to date planning news, information and useful tools. You can use the Planning Portal to submit an application online, calculate a planning fee, check whether planning permission would be required based on current planning law and purchase copies of ordnance survey plans.

Design and Access Statements

Many planning applications now require Design and Access Statements. They are documents that explain the design thinking behind a planning application and should cover both design and access allowing applicants to demonstrate an integrated approach that will deliver inclusive design, and address a full range of access requirements through the planning process.

The only exceptions to applications which do not require a Design and Access Statement are for proposals such as:

• Change of use of land or a building
• Householder applications which do not fall within a Conservation Area
• Advertisements
• Tree Preservation Orders

For further information and advice on producing a Design and Access Statement please visit
CABE Design and Access Statements - How to read write and use them.

Police guidance is also available in the following document:
Design and Access Statements - How to use them to prevent crime.

Flood Risk

For flooding from rivers the Council has identified the extent of a flood with a 1% (1 in 100) and a 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance of happening each year. The Flood Map gives a good indication of the areas at risk of flooding in the Borough, though it cannot provide detail on individual properties.

To find out if a particular property or area of land falls within a flood plain, please use the Mapsearch.

A Flood Risk Assessment will be required as part of a planning application should the area of land either fall within a flood plain or have a site area greater than one hectare regardless of the location.

When preparing a Flood Risk Assessment applicants should read and comply with the Minimum Development Control Requirements for Flood Risk Assessments

For further advice and information, it is reccomended to visit the Environment Agency website.

Landscaping

Details of a landscaping scheme are required for all major planning applications. Further information can be found by visiting the Landscape Design Team page.

Coal Mining

In line with consultation with the Coal Authority, a risk assessment is now required for any full planning application submitted within a coal mining referral area, with the exception of householder permissions.

The referral area identifies sites with a history of coal mining operations, which may have a sever impact on any building work carried out within the area. Please contact Development Control or the Coal Authority should you be unsure as to whether a site falls within a referral area.

For further information we would you visit the Coal Authority Website or contact them direct on 01623 637119 or email planningconsultation@coal.gov.uk

Planning Guidance

Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) can be obtained from the Planning Portal.

These statements are prepared by the government after public consultation to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance to local authorities and others on planning policy and the operation of the planning system. This is a very useful resource for those wishing to gain more insight into various planning policies prior to submitting an application.

Contaminated Land

Land may be affected by contamination if substances are present in, on or under the land, which are actually or potentially hazardous to health or the environment. Applicants looking to develop on contaminated land are advised to read technical guidance issued by Yorkshire and Humberside Pollution Advisory Council, Development on Land Affected by Contamination.

Greener Homes

Planning and building regulation guidance for householders on this increasingly topical subject is available from the Planning Portal. This covers areas such as green energy projects and energy saving.