Extending The Life Of An Application, Making Amendments

From June 2010 Government introduced new processes to the planning system to enable changes to an application and also extend the life of an application that is due to expire. 

Non Material Changes

Many Planning Authorities have for some time had informal systems for dealing with non-material changes to permissions without needing to require the submission of a new application.  At Cannock Chase officers agree to these requests in circumstances where there would be no materially different impact on planning considerations, including for example, no different effects on the amenity of neighbouring occupiers.  Where there would be a materially different impact new applications are requested.  However the Courts have held that there is no formal lawful means of approving any change to a permission after it has been issued.

This new procedure, enabled by the 2008 Planning Act & given effect by amendment to the General Development Procedure Order (GDPO) provides a  new formal process in the form of a simplified application submitted on a standard form which is required to be determined in 28 days.  No design & access statements nor consultation nor publicity is required to be undertaken in these cases.  Under this process new conditions may be imposed, existing conditions removed or altered.  In deciding whether a change is material Planning Authorities must "have regard to the effect of the change, together with any previous changes made under this section". 

  This new procedure, also introduced by amendment to the GDPO, provides for a simplified process of making applications to alter conditions on an existing planning permission whereby the Planning Authority only need consult those statutory bodies whose interests could be materially affected by the proposed changes.

  Extending The Life Of An Application  

This is a simplified procedure, also as an amendment to the GDPO, to enable the life of an unimplemented planning permission, listed building consent or conservation area consent to be extended before it expires, without having to re-submit all the information submitted with the original application.  The requirement to submit design & access statements is removed & the consultation requirements are modified as in Minor Material Changes.  There will also be a reduced fee.  This is aimed at keeping permissions "alive" until the economy moves out of recession by avoiding the potential delay & extra cost of a full re-submission.

  Please click on the relevant links to the side of this page to access further information, forms and fees