Departure applications

The local authority has to decide planning applications in line with policies in the approved development plan for the area.

But a local authority sometimes permits a large-scale or controversial planning application that goes against, or 'departs from', the development plan, either generally or for a particular location.

This is known as a departure application

Thankfully, there is a partial safeguard that helps local people and community groups to keep local authorities bound by their plan, the call-ins.

How call-ins work
The local planning authority has to tell the Department for Communities and Local Government about most departure applications it intends to approve and a number of other types of significant applications.

Once the Department for Communities and Local Government has looked at the detail of an application, it can decide to call it in.

If it does, the decision to approve or reject the application is made by the Government and taken out of the local authority's hands.

If you disagree with a departure application you can help stop it from becoming reality.

By following just a few steps, you can show the Government how damaging a planning application could be and reduce the likelihood of it being approved.