A guide to our Services

The Development Control Section

 

This Section of the Council is primarily responsible for dealing with planning  and building regulation applications, and for providing related advice and information. Over 1000 planning applications and 1000 building regulation applications are dealt with each year. In addition hundreds of enquiries are dealt with relating to the planning and building regulation history of individual properties and parcels of land. Nearly 800  enquiries relating to the need for planning permission are answered each year. To meet the costs of these services and to keep the burden upon the general Council Tax payer to a minimum, various fees and charges  are made.
 
Fees for planning applications are regulated by central government. Charges for building regulation applications are set by the Council with the objective of recovering, from applicants, all of the costs of providing this service.
 
Planning applications and some other documents are available for inspection or reference purposes but for those instances where significant file research/retrieval is required and/or a site visit is necessary we will ask you to meet the charges set out in this leaflet. Where the provision of information or copying of documents attracts a charge we will require you to pay this by cash, cheque or debit/credit card, with your enquiry. For charges in excess of £50 we can, by prior agreement arrange for you to be invoiced. Enquiries and requests for information should usually be made in writing or using the appropriate application forms to the;
 
Development Control Manager,
Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Wareham BH20 4PP
 
Contacts

To check availability of documents for inspection:
Planning/Building Control Reception
telephone: (01929) 557277 or 557270
 
Planning applications and building regulation applications, planning history searches, OS Map Scheme:

Senior Administrative Officer
Rob Roriston
Telephone: (01929) 557278
 
Copies of documents
Malcolm Davies
Telephone: (01929) 557206
 
Enquiries about this information:
 
Development Control Manager
Alan Davies
Telephone: (01929) 557228
 
No Charges
The following services are provided free of charge:
Facility to inspect current planning applications and other related documents including the Local Plan, planning statutes and regulations, and national planning guidance.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assistance to personal callers to use the index to the  register of planning applications to locate previous planning applications. (For single site only -see Other Charges for retrieval of files).
 
If you call at the offices without a prior appointment we will endeavour to deal with your enquiry but cannot always guarantee someone will be available.
 
The following documents can be inspected free of charge:
 
  • Inspection of any current planning application.
  • Retrieval of historic files for personal callers for a single site (may be subject to 24 hours notice)*. 
  • Inspection of officer working file for a planning/listed application or planning/listed. building appeal (notice of proposed inspection may be required).*
  • Inspection of current building regulation application ( only with prior written consent of applicant).*
  • Inspection of any statutory Acts, Regulations, Circulars or Directions relating to planning and building regulation consent.
  • Inspection of any development plan e.g. Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Structure Plan, Purbeck District Local Plan and other local planning guidance.
  • Inspection of central government guidance e.g. Planning Policy Guidance Notes/Planning Policy Statements.

Inspection of the Council’s Corporate Strategy document, Policy Statements, Code of Conduct, Code of Practice( Planning) and the Development & Building Control Service Plan.

  • A selection of advice leaflets and Guidelines to the Councils Procedures for Dealing with Your Planning Application. No charge for copies of these leaflets.
* If you wish to inspect any of these documents it is helpful if you can give a  period of notice of 24 hours so we can ensure the documents are available.
 
Fees for Planning Applications
In 1983 central government introduced fees for planning applications to offset the costs to planning authorities of dealing with planning applications. The level of fees is set periodically by central government.
Examples of current fees are;
£150 for an extension to a dwelling, and,
£335 for a full application to erect a new single dwelling. 
(No VAT payable)
Please ask to see the full list of the various fees. The Senior Administrative Officer (tel.(01929) 557278 or email robroriston@purbeck-dc.gov.uk)  can give you further advice on fees including whether you may be entitled to exemption from the payment of fees.

Charges for Building Regulation Applications
If you are carrying out building work, or internal alterations and improvements to your home, an application under the Building Regulations may also be required, whether or not planning permission is required. There are separate charges to deal with your Building Regulation application. These charges are fixed annually by the District Council. (VAT is payable).
Most charges are calculated on the basis of the estimated cost of the project, but charges relating to extensions to dwellings and small domestic buildings are calculated on the basis of floor space. For example, under the current level of charges an extension between 10 sq m and 40 sq m would attract total charges of £567.07 (inc. VAT).
Please ask to see the full list of the various charges and explanatory notes. The Senior Administrative Officer (Tel/email – see above) can give you further advice on charges including  whether you may be entitled to exemption from the payment of charges.

Further details of the prescribed fees for planning applications and charges for Building Regulation applications can be found on our web site.

Other Charges
The following charges ( inc. VAT)will be made for the services listed below.
Request for confirmation that development has been  
carried out in accord with planning permission, terms  
of enforcement notice or other legal agreement met. - £150
Provision of Completion Certificate (Building Regulations) 
where not previously issued. - £50
Request for confirmation that conditions of planning permission have been complied with. -   £75 for first, then £50 per condition.
Request for confirmation of existing, authorised or permitted use. (A formal application will be required under the provisions of Section 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990). - As per Fee Regulations please enquire
Request for informal determination whether planning 
permission required for a proposed development - £75
or formal determination ( Section 192 ) - As per Fee Regulations
please enquire.
 
Requests for planning site history:
Solicitor/agent enquiry on a
single property or OS parcel
back to 1974 –provision of list of entries,
files retrieved for inspection if requested. - £125
Search of adjoining land 
(within 50m built up area, or 100m rural area)
provision of list of entries, files retrieved
for inspection if requested. - £200
For multiple property sites or larger areas and/or for pre 1974. - Fee by arrangement.
   
Charges for Copies of Documents
OS Map Scheme 
Your planning application must be accompanied by an accurate and up to date 1/2500 or 1/10000 plan identifying the location of the application site. We can
provide you with OS maps for this purpose. Most applications will also require a 1/500 block plan and these can also be supplied. -
£26.56 for a set of 5 Location Plans and 5 Block Plans (includes OS  royalty)

Decision Notices and Certificates
e.g notice of planning permission, Completion Certificates, agreements, Orders. - 10p per side plus £1.50 for postage.
Plans from Planning Applications - 
£2.50 = Up to A3
£5.00 = A3+
 
Other Documents
e.g. minutes, reports, background documents. - 10p per A4 side - 
Colour documents £2 per side if not taken as b/w.
 
Lists of Planning Applications( Monthly) - £150 per annum or £100 for
 either delegated list or non-delegated list. 
 
Conditions
Prior payment for copies of documents will be required, by cash, cheque or debit/credit card. Receipts will be provided. We can invoice you for charges exceeding £50. An additional charge of £1.50 will be made for administration and postage for any documents required to be mailed. Up to 5 A4 sides can be faxed to you at an additional charge of £2 for first side and then £1 for each page thereafter. Plans from applications can only be copied from ‘current’ applications where required for inspection at a more convenient time and place, and only in connection with the process of determination of a planning application i.e. you have been notified of an application and your comments invited. A ‘current’ application is one still under consideration by the Council or within six weeks of its final consideration. This would include an application reactivated by the lodging of an appeal against the decision of the Council. Plans can only be copied from historic planning applications with the written consent of the copyright holder, or on evidence of no copyright, or on evidence that the copyright holder cannot be reasonably contacted. OS plans cannot be copied, traced or photographed. Other documents may be photographed from the files but you will still be required to pay our copying charges. Documents (or parts) subject to Crown copyright cannot be copied. These documents can be obtained from The Stationery Office Ltd http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk
 
SELECTIVE LIST OF DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
( These documents can be made available for inspection or can be purchased where shown * or viewed on the Planning Portal).
 

PURBECK DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN FINAL EDITION* 
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990
PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS ) ACT 1990
PLANNING AND COMPENSATION ACT1991
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (USE CLASSS) ORDER 1987
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (GENERAL PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT) ORDER 1995
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE) ORDER 1995
PLANNING ( ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) ( ENGLAND AND WALES) REGULATIONS 1999
PLANNING ( HEARINGS PROCEDURE) (ENGLAND) RULES 2009
PLANNING (APPEALS) (WRITTEN REPRESENTATION PROCEDURE) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2009
PLANNING (APPEALS) (DETERMINATION OF APPEAL PROCEDURE) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2009
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ( FEES FOR APPLICATIONS ) REGULATIONS 1989
CIRCULAR 15/92 PUBLICITY FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS
CIRCULAR 10/95 PLANNING CONTROLS OVER DEMOLITION
CIRCULAR 06/98 PLANNING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PLANNING POLICY GUIDANCE / STATEMENT
No.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
No.2 GREEN BELTS
No.3 HOUSING (2000)
No 7 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS
No.14 DEVELOPMENT ON UNSTABLE LAND
No.15 PLANNING AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
No.16 ARCHAEOLOGY AND PLANNING
No.18 ENFORCING PLANNING CONTROL
No.25 DEVELOPMENT AND FLOOD RISK
There is a process underway by the Government to replace the Planning Policy Guidance documents with Planning Policy Statements.
PLANNING SERVICES SERVICE PLAN
 
CHARGES FOR PRE-APPLICATION ADVICE
We are able to provide you with advice and information if you are considering a development proposal. We welcome and encourage discussions before you submit an application. In order that we can continue to provide this service to a consistent and high standard, the Council has decided ( February 2004 ) that the cost of providing this service should be recovered directly, and not fall as a general cost to the council tax payer. This scheme covers advice and information given in connection with any potential application for planning permission, listed building consent, consent to undertake work to protected trees, and consents required under the Building Regulations. For further details about the charging scheme, click here to view our leaflet.
 
The Standard Charges
 
Written Enquiries
Level 1 – flat rate charge of £65 ( +VAT) (Total £76.37) to cover non-minor householder development and small sites ( single property or not more than 0/1 hectare)
Level 2 – flat rate charge of £130 (+VAT) (Total £152.75) for any larger site, but may be subject to
additional site investigation charge – see below.
 
(Please note payment is required in advance for a written enquiry, before it will be dealt with)

Meetings with Planning Officers
A standard charge of £55(+ VAT) (Total £64.62) per project per half hour or part of, per Officer.  Travelling time to a meeting not held at Westport House is charged at £30 (+ VAT) (Total £35.25) Chargeable time is sectored into the following elements, the standard charge applying to each sector – travelling time to and from a site where  a meeting is not held at Westport House, meeting time , and post meeting administration or research.
 
(Please note charges will be invoiced for payment after the meeting)

Site Research/Investigation
For those sites with a complex or extensive site history , or which are subject to special designations or controls , an additional charge will be made.
 

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