AGENTS’ FORUM

28 November 2012

Proposed pre-app enquiry fees

• What’s New article posted 19 November

at What's New web link

• Consultation period ends 31 December 2012

• Implementation from 7 January 2013

• Analysed time recorded costs for 47 cases completed April to October 2012

Findings from first 47 cases

• 267 hours of service

• At a cost of £13,327 (at £50 an hour)

• Recovered £8,847 (a 34% shortfall)

Why fees have to go up• Applicants being subsidised by Council Tax

payers• Need income to retain the staff necessary

to provide the service

Main changes proposed

• Householder, Advert and Change of Use – fee to be increased from £50 to £75

• Minor development simplified into two categories with fees of £200 or £300

(Existing fees go up in £50 stages from £150 to £300)

• Small-scale Major developments:– Stage I ‘in principle’ enquiry

from £350 to £400 – Stage 2 detailed enquiry

from £850 to £1,000

• Large-scale Major developments– Stage I ‘in principle’ enquiry

from £450 to £600– Stage 2 detailed enquiry

from £1,350 to £1,500.

Proposed changes to validation requirements (LPAR)

• What’s New article posted 19 Novemberat What's New web page

• Consultation ends 31 December 2012• Implementation from 7 January 2013

Changes:

• Local validation checklists

• Coal Mining Risk Assessments

• C-Plan option for Sustainability Statements

Local validation checklists• Addresses common problems that can delay

applications, 28% invalidity (Householder, Full, Outline and Listed Building)

• Explains Sheffield requirements and National.• Based on CLG 2010 guidance.• The Forum discussed the information required to

demonstrate proposed ground and floor levels in 2009.

Coal Mining Risk Assessments

Main risks in Sheffield• Mine entries• Shallow workings • Former surface mining sites where restoration

methods may not have been to modern standards or is not fully known

• Coal Authority has mapped higher risk areas

Link to Coal Authority guidance and map of 'Coal Mining Development Referral Areas'

When is a CMRA required?

• In areas of higher risk (Coal Mining Development Referral Areas) -

where the proposed ground works, excavations, and/or design and layout

- may need to be amended prior to the application being determined

A CMRA is not required for:

• Householder planning applications

• Other minor development where:– design or layout are unlikely to be affected– the applicant may want to defer any

consideration to a later stage

• On the former site of Tinsley Park opencast, where coal mining risks were removed as part of the operations. 

C-Plan option for Sustainability Statements

• An online tool all Yorkshire and Humber LPAs are considering

• Helps applicants submit energy and sustainability statements

• Traffic light system makes it easy for applicants and officers see if a development is complying with policy requirements

• Could help some applicants, minimising the need for expert advice and long written statements

• Possible alternative or supplement to Sustainability Statement (not a validation requirement)

I need to know if an application

complies with our policy

I need to submit an energy

statement for my development

1. Developer

I need to know the local

policies and targets

2. Architect/Engineer

3. Case Officer 4. Sustainability Advisor

I need to manage receipt of supporting

information

3. Admin manager

5. Policy planner

I need to report on the overall

effectiveness of our policies

I need to know the details of the energy statement

C-Plan option for Sustainability Statements

The C-Plan Process

Reports and Reports and archivesarchives

Capturedata in consistent format

Cost £35 -2 submissions

Check for feasibility and policy compliance

Provides accurate basis for negotiations

Report on overall impacts of policies in annual monitoring reports

Stage1. Applica

nt

Stage 3.Developme

nt Managemen

t

Stage 4.Monitoring by

Policy Team

Stage 2.C-Plan

Online form Online form completed by completed by

developerdeveloper

Database benchmarks calculations

engine

Dashboard and decision

screens

Traffic light overview of compliance with policy

Edit inputs until secure compliance with policy requirements

C-Plan – initial findings

• Can demonstrate compliance with 10% renewables• Perhaps develop a sustainability check list as well• Need to avoid duplication of BREEAM, Code for

Sustainable Homes and SAP energy calculations • Applicants want flexibility (LF and others)

Stage 1:– give details or commitments – explain where can’t complyStage 2:– provide missing details in response to condition(s)

C-Plan – agents’ views

• Ted Tunnicliffe (Tatlow Stancer) & Laura Fitzgerald (DLP) attended a presentation with officers- Ted can give his comments shortly

• Still developing with C-Plan• Possible April full implementation• Aim to pilot with a couple of schemes• Laura Fitzgerald (DLP):

“Overall I think it is a useful tool. Whether it is simple enough to use in practice and avoids the need to instruct an energy consultant will be the test as to its success.”

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Planning and Building Control

In a sample of 100 planning applications, 50% of those applications would follow on to need Building Regulation consent

We can be there if you need usWe want to be involvedWe can add value

Planning and Building Control - An example

Development Team Approach

Extension for a New Heavy ForgeEarly engagement with all partiesVisit to sitePreliminary comments and problems resolvedClient sees benefits and is leading on management of projectLABC engaged

Any questions?

Are we delivering?

Contact:Andrew Taylor

Building Control Manager

Sheffield City Council

Email: andrew.taylor@Sheffield.gov.uk

Enhanced application service

Registration and alerts

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