Update - April 2008 changes to planning application forms (from AMA Autumn Newsletter)
In April 2008 the government introduced its new standard electronic form for planning permission applications. Alongside this, the government introduced new information requirements for validation of planning applications by local planning authorities, including a request for information on biodiversity.
It is our experience that there remains widespread misunderstanding among developers of the protocols and confusion in some local authorities about when biodiversity issues are relevant and when and what type of survey data is required at the pre-planning application stage. The situation is complicated by the fact that whilst most, but not all, planning authorities now rigorously enforce PPS 9 requirements for pre-planning baseline surveys, a substantial proportion of (mainly smaller) developers are still unaware of this requirement. The result is that many developers assume a Phase 1 habitat survey is an adequate level of pre-application data collection and are then surprised when the planning authority request more detailed additional ecological survey. This is a serious issue if a developer has missed a seasonal survey ‘window’ and is then required to wait until the next season before completing works prior to a re-submission can be made.
Clients who would like to know more about current policy and legislative requirements and the implications for their businesses, should consider booking one of our free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training workshops during winter 2008-09. Please contact either Dr Stephen Holloway or Andrew McCarthy in our Exeter office to book a CPD, or to discuss how these changes might affect your projects.