We aim to decide planning applications within 8 weeks for minor applications and within 13 weeks for major applications.
The majority of planning applications are determined under delegated powers. This is a recommendation by the case officer that is then agreed by a manager on behalf of the council. In some cases, an application will need to be determined at planning committee.
We refer some applications to:
- the Planning Board (for major and strategic applications)
- one of the Local Planning Committee (for smaller schemes with local interest)
What happens at committee meetings
There are public meetings where members of the Planning Board or Local Planning Committee make a decision.
We will set a date for the committee meeting and publish the agenda a week before that date. We'll then invite people who have commented on an application at least five day before it.
At the meeting:
- a planning officer presents the application to the committee members (councillors) and the public
- we invite the agent or applicant to speak
- we allow local objectors or supporters may speak
- committee members can ask questions at any time. If a councillor that is not a member of the committee has a standing order, they can also speak. But they cannot vote or influence the decision
- the members discuss whether they will grant planning permission
If the members are not able to make a decision, they may defer the application to the next planning committee.
Find dates of the planning meetings
Conditions
A planning condition may be set to accept an otherwise unacceptable development.
The condition may be:
- a submission condition - where you need to provide more information
- a compliance condition - where they set out a specific product you must use
It's best to provide lots of information when you apply. This makes it less likely that we'll set a planning condition for you to submit more information.
Discharge of planning conditions
This is what we call it when you need to submit extra information. The wording of the condition explains what you need to provide.
Find out more about the discharge of planning conditions (Planning Portal website)
Informatives
Decision notices often include informatives. These provide extra information you may need to know about, but is not a condition. For example, details about how to apply for a dropped curb to your property.
Find out about public health planning informatives and contacts
Upcoming changes to how we make decisions
From 31 October 2026, planning officers must decide certain types of application.
Known as Schedule 1 applications, these will include:
- householder applications
- minor residential developments of up to 9 homes, including converting homes into Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
- minor commercial developments
- a range of other small applications
The Planning Board and Local Planning Committee will not be able to consider Schedule 1 applications.
Other applications, known as Schedule 2 applications, may still go to either the Local Planning Committee or Planning Board. The Chief Planning Officer and a nominated council member must agree for this to happen.
The Chief Planning Officer will continue to decide tree and advertisement applications.