Time for another LPA-focussed post – so apologies in advance to all those not toiling away in planning offices all around the country.
One of the Portal’s key objectives is to increase the number of planning applications submitted electronically. A large part of our success so far has been achieved through the excellent partnerships we’ve built with LPAs.
Naturally, we want to make sure LPAs have the necessary tools to receive, process and determine applications electronically and to help challenge the culture of planning to move towards newer and better ways of working. Read more…
• The Planning Portal will deliver more than £0.5bn in quantifiable benefits to the UK economy over the next four years.
• In Q1, 2012 the Portal will process its one millionth online planning application.
• Each month there are almost eight million page views of the Portal website
• In the current financial year alone there will be circa 10 million visitors to the Portal website and close to two million downloads of the Building Regulations Approved Documents.
• The Planning Portal will cost the taxpayer less than £4m over the next three years.
• Last week I turned down a request to spend 94p on post-its
P.S We still have advertising slots available
I get a lot of correspondence from agents on the subject of validation. In particular on the apparent disparity between what they and citizens are expected to provide.
In the interest of balance, I thought I’d ask LPAs to join in the conversation by telling us of your personal bugbears, horror stories or just plain funny attempts to get permission.
Perhaps you could throw in some top tips, too.
Remember no names – my litigation budget isn’t what it was.
The Portal’s Low Carbon Pledge has been signed by well over 100 planning professionals who have declared their commitment to minimise CO2 emissions by submitting their applications online.
Building on the success of this I’m delighted to tell you that the British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) is the first professional organisation to sign the Professional Bodies and Trade Association version of the pledge. Read more…
Slightly (a lot really) off topic but if you’d like to know what I get up to outside of my day job, take a look at this link and consider joining me.
P.S I’m the hairy one.
Although this blog is intended for everyone, now and again I use it to talk to a particular group, in this case my friends in local planning authorities.
You have told us again and again that the plans attached to applications are a common cause of invalid applications.
We’re working to address this (and generate some revenue to keep the wolf from the door) by asking all of you who do not sell plans or have a preferred supplier to add a link to our Buy a Plan service.
Are you a LinkedIn user, if so look me up and connect, it’s just another way to stay in touch and talk, one to one or as a group.
One of you is my 100,000th viewer, wow!
I really value your feedback and it does make a difference – maybe not as quickly as you and I would always like, but we usually get there in the end, where Government finance and procurement allows.
By way of thanks and in celebration of this milestone I’d be very happy to visit your neck of the woods and buy lunch or a round of golf for the next person to comment on this blog.
So if you think you could stand a free lunch or 4 hours of very average but free golf with me get posting now. First posted – first served.
Don’t worry, no need to inform the press, its coming from my pocket and the offer does not apply to Portal employees!
There appears to be a little confusion about these forms, so rather than tack this onto the earlier post, here is an update.
The Portal does offer a Non Material Amendment Application form or “Application for a non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission. Town and Country Planning Act 1990” to give it it’s snappy title.
You’ll find it here
We also offer a Notice for Non Material Amendments or once again a slightly less snappy “Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 9” which is here.
For the time being both are pdf only and must be downloaded but we are planning to wrap them into our the next iteration of 1App.
Guidance and help on submitting these applications or notices can be found in the text box at the foot of the “make an Application” page on the Portal.
Chris
Hello,
Previously I asked for your feedback on the other consents you apply for and you’ve all been quiet as mice.
It may be because my question was buried in a post on another topic so here it is again up front and central.
Can you please let me know which other consents and licences you most frequently apply for in connection with developments. Read more…
Planning Portal Blog 