Planning permission
What will I find on these pages?
These pages give general guidance about the kinds of work for which you need to apply for planning permission and those for which you do not.
Whose responsibility is to get planning permission?
It is your responsibility for seeking, or not seeking, planning permission. If required, planning permission should be granted before any work begins.
I am not sure whether I need to apply for planning permission?
If you are in any doubt about whether you need to apply, you should consult us. We will usually give you advice. You might want to read our leaflet on Pre-Application Consultations before you call us.
Take Care! If you build something which needs planning permission without obtaining permission first, you may be forced to put things right later, which could prove troublesome and costly. You might even have to remove an unauthorised building. This action is known as 'Enforcement'.
Who do I apply to?
You apply to us, in most cases, for planning permission. Planning applications are decided in line with the development plan unless there are very good reasons not to do so. Some of the things we will look at when consider a planning application are the -
- number, size, layout, siting and external appearance of buildings
- proposed means of access, landscaping and impact on the neighbourhood
- availability of infrastructure, such as roads and water supply
- proposed use of the development
What if I live in the area covered by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park?
By the way, for those in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, references to "the council" or "local planning authority" will usually mean the National Park Authority, which deals with most planning matters relating to land within the park.
Do I have to make the application myself?
It is not necessary to make the application yourself. If you wish, you can appoint an agent (for instance, an architect, a solicitor, or a builder) to make it for you.
Who can make an application?
Anyone can make an application, irrespective of who owns the land or buildings concerned. However, if you are not the owner, or if you have only part-ownership, you have to inform the owner or those who share ownership, including any leaseholder whose lease still has seven or more years to run, and any agricultural tenant.
What do we check?
You make your planning application to us and most must come with a fee. When we get an application we give it a number and then we examine it to make sure the form is filled in, the drawings and plans have enough information to allow us to make a decision and the fee is correct.
When we have made these checks and are happy that we have everything we need we advertise the application in local newspapers and consult others in the Council together with other organisations such as Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
How do we publicise planning applications?
The applications we receive each week are made up into a "weekly list" and copies are sent to Councillors, Community Councils, other people or groups who have let us know they want to receive the list (you have to pay for this). The list is also available in libraries and on the web site.
Neighbour notifications are sent out by post to neighbouring properties by you or whoever has made the application. This is done before the application is made.
Certain types of application are advertised in the press as well.
There are also special procedures for letting people know about certain types of permitted development for example agricultural buildings etc.
Do we keep a list of planning applications that have still to be decided?
Planning applications which we still have to make a decision on are kept in the "Part I Register". You can see his at Planning Reception. Applications which have been advertised by public notice in the press may also be seen by you at other Council offices. You can also view planning applications by going to the Online applications page.
Can I copy plans?
The Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 lets you copy plans and drawings to allow you to look at them at a more convenient time and place.
Can anyone comment on a planning application?
Anyone can comment (make representation) on an application. If you can, you should make your comments using our online comments form or by email (you should look at the weekly list of recent applications to find the application number), or in writing to The Environment Service, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD within the time period given in the press notice.
You should note that any comment you make cannot be treated as confidential and note that all letters of representation, including all address details and signatures, will be treated as public documents and will, for instance, be displayed for public inspection on the planning applications online pages relevent to the application that you have commented on or are looking at and will be available for anyone to view. We do not accept anonymous submissions but you are not required to supply your signature.
It may also be necessary to make them available to the applicant/agent to seek resolution of concerns. Material which forms part of an application and on which the final decision is based must also be available for public inspection.
Who do we consult?
There are several statutory consultations which we need to do but these will depend on the type of application. We would normally ask for the opinion of the Senior Engineer in Development Management on roads and some drainage issues, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on some flooding matters, Scottish Water on drainage and sewage matters, Environment Services if it's possible that there might be noise or smells caused by the development and the Environment Service if there are trees on the site.
Will we visit the site?
We will also visit the site and assess any responses we get from consultees or comments from the public.
Will changes be made before a decision is taken?
We may discuss changes with you or the applicant or their agent before we make a decision on your application. Any changes suggested will be based on our assessment and any comments we have received.
When does the Development Control Committee meet?
Reports on planning applications are generally submitted to the Development Control Commitee which meets at 9.30am on the following dates:
| 23 January 2008 |
|
27 February 2008 |
| 2 April 2008 |
|
7 May 2008 |
| 28 May 2008 |
|
2 July 2008 |
| 30 July 2008 |
|
27 August 2008 |
| 24 September 2008 |
|
22 October 2008 |
| 19 November 2008 |
|
10 December 2008 |
