Do I need
Planning Permission?
Under the Town and Country Planning legislation, any proposed
work or scheme to be undertaken that is covered by the following
definition of development, will require Planning Permission:
'any building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on or
under land, or the making of any material change in the use of an
building or other land'.
Any proposal that falls in this definition of development
requires Planning Permission. Some however, do
not, this is known as 'permitted development'. These
could include, for example, small front porch or rear conservatory
extensions to dwellings. To find out whether your particular
proposal requires permission you should complete a Householder
Development Enquiry Form which can be found at the foot of the
page.
When completed and returned, a written response will be sent to
you within 5 working days. The form will also determine whether
your proposal will be subject to Building Regulations.
What type of Planning Permission?
There are three main types of planning application:
- Outline: this establishes the principles of development.
Detailed plans are not required at this stage although you may be
asked to sketch provide an indicative drawing
- Reserved Matters: the next stage following outline consent and
sets out the details of the proposal
- Full: full details of the proposal including siting, design and
access are provided
This Application comprises:
- a set of completed
Planning Application Forms. The forms are also available from
the Council Offices at Whitehaven, Cleator Moor and Millom.
- Site location plan (5 copies) normally 1:2500 scale showing the
site outlined in red.
- these can be purchased from Copeland Borough Council if
necessary.
- detailed drawings (5 copies) if applying for full permission or
approval of reserved matters.
- The fee. Most planning applications attract a fee. See Schedule
of Fees document which can be found within the documents download
section of this page
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with one of
our Chartered Town Planners, prior to submission. If your proposal
falls within the part of the Borough which is in the Lake District
National Park, please contact the Lake District National
Park.
How long will it take?
The Council has eight weeks in which to make a decision on most
planning applications. In a few more complicated cases more time is
needed and this is usually agreed with the applicant.
The Right of Appeal
If the Council refuses a planning application there is a right
of appeal.
How do I comment on Planning Applications?
As a member of the public you have the right to inspect and
comment on any Planning Application. Applications can be inspected
at the Council's Catherine Street Offices, Whitehaven during usual
office hours [ Monday to Thursday: 8.45 am - 5.15 pm,
Wednesday: 10.00 - 515 pm and Friday: 8.45 am to 4.30 pm ]
If you wish to make any comments on a planning application, then
please do so in writing, or by email, to:
The Development Services Manager
Copeland Borough Council
The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street, Whitehaven CA28 7SJ
e-mail: devcontrol@copelandbc.gov.uk
Your comments will then be kept on our files and taken into
account when the Planning Officer or Committee is considering the
case. Information on what applications have been received is
available from the Copeland Borough Council Offices.
A Weekly
List of planning applications is also available for
inspection.
A list of Planning Applications Determined can be viewed
online.
Building without Permission
The Council may take enforcement action:
- when development is carried out without Permission
- where conditions attached to a Planning Application have not
been complied with
- when development has been carried out which is at
variance with the Planning Approval
The matter will be investigated. There are various notices and
legal controls which may be applied. These include requiring
unauthorised buildings to be demolished, and stopping the
unauthorised use of land. In recent years the Council has
taken action to make sure that developers comply with Planning
Approvals and associated conditions.
There are other types of planning control which the Section
administers. These include:
- Notices of Intention
- Listed Building Consent
- Conservation Area Consent
- Advertisement Consent
- Lawful Development Certificates
- Tree Preservation Orders