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CHIS Planning Advice and Infomation

Maggie Shapland
Contents Watching planning applications is a lot easier than it used to be now that application details are on web sites. They help you monitor:

Length of time for comment on individual applications

 There is 3 weeks grace from the receipt of a letter giving notice of an application and about 5 weeks from the date of registration.
Anyone who feels they might like to speak at a Development Committee Planning Meeting must book a slot early - midday on the day before the meeting. A good showing from passionate local people should play well- but do not speak for more than 3 minutes, only present the main points of your objection since it should have been read earlier by the panel, and do try to orchestrate the campaigners to make sure each puts forward different points. Councillors can be very responsive to a gathering of local objectors, which is perhaps no surprise given that they are elected officials.
Do write as individuals against a particular development, making sure to state your context (resident, neighbour, local shopkeeper etc). Comments about planning applications to: Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, Brunel House, St Georges Road, Bristol BS1 5UY. Telephone: 0117 9223976
You can search for planning applications, decisions, site histories and appeals via Bristol City Council public Access website, and on the national planning website http://www.ukplanning.com (see the useful website section for more details)

Guidelines for Pre Application Involvement

The following steps are recommended as good practice that the Council will expect from planning proposals that have significant local impact and are drawn from the SCI Ground Rules: This record will be agreed and signed by both parties and submitted with the planning application. If no agreement on the document can be reached, then both parties may submit their own statement to the Council to be considered along with other information relating to the application.

The Statement of Community Involvement is a legal requirement introduced as part of the Government's drive to improve the planning system by making it more accessible to the public. The document aims to be a clear statement of how and when the public will be involved in planning Bristol's future development.
February 2007: discussed by community groups and the Council
August 2006: The Planning Inspector decided that the Council's statement did not pass the test of good practice. The Council had to rewrite the statement and go through another public involvement exercise
This document can be accessed over the Council web site or inspected at their offices (Brunel House), hard copy (£3).

Removal of Trees

Planning Issues you can comment on:
Comments against the proposed removal of the tree MUST be based on planning issues, I have listed a few examples below or you can visit the planning applications commenting section at this address ; www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Planning/commenting-on-planning-applications.en
Example Planning Issues: What your letter must contain;
Your letter or email must include date, name, address, application number and the Site address , if you email; include the letter as an attachment if you want to avoid publication of your email address.

Conservation Planning Advice and how to comment on applications

 Ring Kingsley Fulbrook (922 2966) who deals with conservation matters, if you are concerned about a development changing the appearance of the original building and it's grounds in a Conservation area.

Satellite Dishes

Planning permission is needed for satellite dishes in a conservation area for an antenna installed on a chimney, wall, or a roof slope which faces onto, and is visible from, a road or a Broads waterway. (If you are not sure, get advice from the local planning authority.).
If you live in a ‘listed building’ and want to install an antenna on that building, you generally need to apply for ‘listed building consent’. This consent is different from planning permission. You need listed building consent for any antenna that affects the character or appearance of a listed building or its setting.
More detail in Planning Portal - the government's online service for planning.

Protection of Private Gardens (Housing Development) Bill

Oct 2006: There is a worrying issue of the designation of private gardens as brown field land and subsequent development of these gardens. We are concerned that the classification of all gardens as brownfield land could lead to speculative builders buying up old houses with large gardens and replacing these with poorly situated flats that could in time substantially change the nature of an area. This could also put strain on existing services and deprive communities of the valuable amenity of gardens that provide pleasure for the owners and enhance the entire area. This issue is causing a lot of concern, not only amongst organisations such as the Civic Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society, but also to many MP’s from all parties. To tackle this issue a private members bill has been introduced by Greg Clark MP. This bill, the Protection of Private Gardens (Housing Development) Bill, seeks to stop the practice of designating private gardens as brownfield sites for planning purposes. The bill, which can be seen here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200506/protection_of_private_gardens_housing_development.htm will have its second reading on October 20th 2006. We urge all our members to write to their MP’s in support of this bill.

Planning Classes Updated in March 2005

The following classes of use are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (referred to in Part 2). See Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Changes of use of Buildings and Land

Height Matters

'Height Matters?' is a consultation initiative to consider Bristol's existing tall buildings and what stance should be taken by the City towards future tall buildings. Throughout April, May and June 2004 the Council used a series of public events, exhibitions and surveys to find out the public's views on tall buildings. Additionally, policy guidance on tall buildings (prepared by the Council), was placed on the Bristol City Council website. Indication of areas that may be appropriate for tall buildings. Of particular interest to CHIS was that the Clifton-Kingsdown escarpment - has been suggested as area that may be appropriate for an iconic tall building. The report published on 20th January 2005 giving planning guidance to the city council states that planners should consider applications for tall buildings. The new policy on tall buildings has been approved at a meeting of the council's environment, transport, and leisure executive. It sets out the areas in the city where tall buildings should and should not be included.

Fighting the developers

This link describes the standards that developers should adhere to, but in practice do not: Unless you continually keep contacting the Bristol City Council's Highways Section (who are very helpful), the developers will try to get away with everything they can.

Effect of changes to householder permitted development rights

Statutory Instrument 2008 No 2362 was implemented October 2008, in which Permitted Development was altered to allow householders to modify their property in certain ways without needed planning consent. It was not clear from the document whether the relaxation applied to protected areas and properties such as listed buildings, Article 4 Direction, Conservation Areas, etc.
Alan Shrank of Network of Residents' Association wrote to the Minister of Housing, then Margaret Beckett on 11 October 2008, and failing a reply then wrote to the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, on 17 December 2008. He has just received the wanted letter from the Department of CLG which should dispel our fears.

Useful websites:

Information about planning applications is now available:
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