How applications are assessed
The same basic procedures apply to the approval process for different types of planning application
However the applications are determined against
- Different policies
- By different people
Application for Change of Use of land or buildings
Who determines application and how
- Who: The planning authority (a district council or unitary authority)
- How: Applications are assessed against the policies in the regional spatial strategy, the local development framework and other material considerations. The content of these documents needs to be compatible with Government planning policy.
Application for new road or expansion of an existing road
Who determines application and how
- Who:The highway authority (county council, unitary authority or metropolitan borough) if it's a local road; the secretary of state for transport if it's a trunk road or motorway scheme
- How: Applications for motorway and trunk road schemes are assessed against planning policies at the regional and local level. But the processes for deciding on the proposal is governed by the Highways Act 1980.
Local road schemes fall under the land use planning system.
Therefore, applications are assessed against the policies in the regional spatial strategy, the local development framework and other material considerations.
The content of these documents needs to be compatible with the Government's planning policies.
Application for new quarry, or an extension to an existing quarry
Who determines application and how
- Who: The minerals planning authority, which is the county council or unitary authority
- How: The main policy document is the minerals development framework.
Its content needs to be compatible with the regional spatial strategy and the Government's mineral planning statements.
The local plan or local development framework will also be relevant.
Planning application concerning the management of waste
Who determines application and how
- Who: The waste planning authority (the county council or unitary authority), in most cases. Some applications will be decided by the local planning authority (a district council or unitary authority)
- How: The waste planning authority produces a waste development framework and proposals will be tested against the policies in this, the regional spatial strategy and other material considerations. The local plan or local development framework will also be relevant.