Recent content updates on our application service 

As always, we continue to monitor legislative changes and user feedback to help us improve the content on our application service. We have recently made some essential improvements; improving content which was previously causing issues for some users. Details of these changes are highlighted below. 

Updates to the ‘Application category’ selection 

We’ve had feedback from users and County Councils that incorrect choices were being made when users selected an application type, but then needed to identify if it should be sent to a County Council or not. 

This covers both ‘County matters’ applications for ‘Waste development’, and ‘Regulation 3’ applications that authorities can make to themselves. 

The wording for these options has now been updated and additional help text provided to more clearly explain the circumstances in which they should (or should not) be used. 

‘Waste development’ has been better defined by now including a link to government guidance that provides examples where this category would usually need to be selected. 

We hope this change will allow more applications to be assigned to the correct Local Authority in the first instance. 

Updates to the Prior Approval application for film making 

Recent legislative updates have widened the scope of permitted development rights for the temporary use of land for commercial film making. 

We have now updated our online system to reflect this, and added a note to ensure users are aware of the change if accessing older applications. 

Roundup of smaller updates 

Clarification of totals for residential units 

Previous user feedback had highlighted that the totals we calculate for residential units (based on the number of units of each type specified) had been incorrectly titled as ‘Total bedrooms’, this has now been corrected to ensure that its clear to all parties what these totals represent. 

Improved logic for mixed use sites in Greater London 

We have now added in logic which was previously missing, to ensure that users only need to answer relevant questions. 

Update to submission declaration 

There has not been any change to the on-screen declaration but ensured that it was correctly replicated in the application question and generated PDF form.