Our targets for dealing with applications are:

• 8 weeks for householder and minor applications.  This includes tree preservation order (TPO) applications, listed building applications, applications to display an advert.  (The only exceptions to this are 6 weeks for works to tree(s) in a conservation area and 28 days for a prior notification).
  
  
• 13 weeks for major applications.

Once you have submitted your application, these are the basic stages in the planning application process.

Stage 1 - Registering the application
A planning technician will check that you have sent us everything we need to start the process.  If your application is valid (you have sent us all of the information we need), we will send you a letter confirming this within five working days.

If your application is invalid (you have not sent us all of the information we need), we will contact you to let you know what additional information we need from you.

If there are a number of significant omissions in your application, we may return it to you.  If your invalid application does not progress, it will be sent back to you after 28 days.

Stage 2 - Allocation to a case officer
Once your application is registered, it will be allocated to a planning officer.  The case officer's name, phone number and email address will be on the first letter we send you or your agent.  From this point onwards, you should always try to speak to the case officer about your application.

Note: If the application form includes an agent's contact details all correspondence will be sent to the agent.

Stage 3 - Site visit
The case officer will normally visit the site within 10 days of sending the first letter.  They will only contact you about this visit if they cannot gain access to the site.

Stage 4 - Negotiation and discussion
Following a visit, if an officer considers that your proposal is not acceptable but that it could be improved, they may contact you or your agent to negotiate changes.  If you agree with these changes, you will need to revise your plans and drawings and send them to us again.

However, it is unlikely that we will ask for changes to an application that goes against our planning policies or requires substantial change.  If this happens, the case officer may suggest that you withdraw the application before it is refused.  Some applicants prefer to do this as a refused application will be logged on the property history and will be picked up by a solicitor if, for example, you are selling your house.

For some applications, you may be required to make an infrastructure contribution to the council - read our summary Guide to the Infrastructure SPD [PDF] (63k) - the details of which will be set out in a Section 106 legal agreement.  However, this should already have been discussed and agreed upon in principle at the pre-application stage.

Stage 4 - Consultation
We will write to your neighbours and any other individuals, groups and organisations who have an interest in the site.  We give neighbours 21 days to comment on your application, and other groups and organisations 14 days.  We can only make a decision on an application when the consultation period is over.

Any of the consultees can write to us to support or object to your application.  These letters are put on the case file and can be viewed on the website under the relevant application number.

Stage 5 - Officer recommendation
The case officer will write a report on your proposal, highlighting every issue they have considered.  This will include:

• Consideration of the relevant planning policies.
• Observations from the site visit.
• Discussions with the applicant and any other relevant parties.
• Comments from consultees.

The report will conclude with the officer recommendation to either approve or refuse your application.

Stage 6 - Councillor involvement
If an officer is recommending that an application is refused, or that it is approved but they have received at least one letter of objection, the case officer will contact local councillors to ask for their views.  Councillors have seven days to agree to the recommendation or to ask for the application to be considered by the Planning Committee.  If they want the application to go to committee, there must be policy reasons for this to happen.

Stage 7 - The decision
A decision on your application will then be made either by the Head of Planning Services, Development Control Manager or a Principal Planning Officer(under delegated powers) or by the Planning Committee.  Currently, around 90% of applications are determined under delegated powers.

For more information on decision-making, see Who makes the decision on a planning application?.


Planning Services
Guildford Borough council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BP

Tel: 01483 444609
Email: planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk