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Covid 19 & LPAs

Self Contingency Measures

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WEEKLY UPDATE - (14TH MAY 2020)

2Pegasus Group COVID-19 & LPA Self Contingency Measures

LPA Coronavirus Impact Schedule

Introduction

This report provides an update on the self-contingency measures being applied by Local Planning Authorities across England and Wales.

The information is derived from Local Planning Authority websites in addition to discussions with Local Planning Authority staff and is formatted by Pegasus Group.

This section includes information from the main regions including:

• East Midlands• East of England• London• North East• North West• South East• South West• Wales (North)• Wales (South)• West Midlands• Yorkshire and Humber

The Regions and Local Planning Authorities are listed in alphabetical order for ease of reference. The regions above have been hyperlinked for your ease of use.

The information provided in this document is relevant at the time of writing (14th May 2020) and will be subject to change as the situation with the Covid-19 and Local Planning

Authorities self-contingency measures evolve further. Pegasus Group will continue to closely monitor the position given its fast - changing nature and will update this

information as and when new information becomes available.

Should you require any further information please contact Michelle Simpson-Gallego in our Birmingham Office, alternatively each region has an appointed contact from

Pegasus Group set out within the schedules and they would also be happy to assist with any enquiries.

mailto:michelle.simpson-gallego%40pegasusgroup.co.uk?subject=LPA%20Coronavirus%20Impact%20Schedule


LPA Coronavirus Impact Schedule Back to top^

Region East MidlandsContact Guy Longley and Amy Smith

LPA Working procedures and practices Committee meetings Local Plan & other Policy Document production

Amber Valley Meetings in person are suspended both in office and on site.

The council’s formal meeting arrangements are being considered for the new municipal year. The council will publish the arrangements here when they are agreed.

No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan.

Ashfield District Council Officers working from home predominately contactable via email.

Virtual planning committee. Public speaking is the same as in the constitution, but will have to provide a submission which can be read out by officers, or a via a pre-recorded video (to be finalised).

Next committee date is 17th June 2020 taking place virtually, details tbc.

No information available.

Bassetlaw District Council Some officers in the office, some working from home. Ring customer services as normal.

Next committee is to be virtual – however, this is not confirmed.

29th April 2020 Committee meeting cancelled.

Committee meeting 27th May 2020 to be virtual, details to be confirmed.

No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan

Blaby District Council Answerphone/ callback service for planning department only.

Council approved for temporary amendment (12 months) to Scheme of Delegation to allow delegation of decision making on applications and other functions to the Planning and Economic Development Group Manager (P&EDGM) in consultation with Members of Planning Committee.

New Planning Committee scheduled for 14th May 2020 [Virtual] to consider a Leicestershire County Council application.


Bolsover District Council Ask for all applications to be submitted electronically. Decisions will be issued electronically.

Planning Committee is cancelled until at least the end of May 2020, when the arrangements will be reviewed.

Council adopted New Local Plan on 4th March 2020




Boston District Council Planning are operating a reduced service and will be focusing on essential tasks.

All non-essential internal and external meetings have been cancelled at the Municipal Buildings until the end of April 2020 where this will then be reviewed further.

Site visits in relation to applications still taking place.

Plans Committee for 5th May 2020 does not appear to have taken place.

Cabinet meeting for 20th May 2020 scheduled as virtual meeting


Broxtowe Borough Council Officers working from home contactable by email, and call back service only.

Duty planner operating via email and call back service only.

To reduce time in the office to undertake consultations, householder applications are to notify neighbours themselves – no information on notification for other applications.

All essential items will be considered by the Policy and Performance Committee which, by agreement with the three group leaders, will consist of three members of the ruling group and two Conservative Group members. The intention is to hold this meeting virtually as soon as the Government’s new Regulations enabling this are law. The Planning Committee will continue to be held regularly (also virtually) with three members of the ruling group and two Conservative Group members, geographical considerations should be taken into account when these members are selected. Councillors will be asked to consider carefully which items are called-in and which can be decided by officer delegation. It is currently planned for the Full Council meeting to go ahead on 13th May 2020 with 11 members to ensure that the meeting is quorate.

Planning committee took place virtually on 22nd April 2020. Next committee taking place 20th May 2020 virtually, access through Broxtowe website.

To be confirmed.

Charnwood Borough Council All officers home working. Duty Officer still available via telephone. Best way to contact Case Officers directly is via email. Site visits are limited.

Virtual Plans Committee took place on 6th May 2020 via Zoom. Successful meeting – speakers called in to address Members. Next Plans Committee scheduled for 21st May 2020 [Virtual].

Consultation on Submission Draft Local Plan Reg 19 delayed to October before the Covid-19 outbreak.

Region East Midlands continued




Chesterfield Borough Council The Planning team is now working remotely, site visits and site notice are being undertaken where essential in accordance with social distancing measures. There are no face to face meetings until further notice. Applicants are being contacted to agree time extensions where appropriate.

The council has suspended normal elected member decision making processes to ensure that proper social distancing measures can be maintained. The planning committee will not meet for the coming weeks and the opportunity for public speaking at the committee has been suspended. Decisions will be taken by the development management and conservation manager or the assistant director for economic growth, and where appropriate in consultation with the committee membership.

To commence virtual planning committees, next meeting 18th May 2020 at 1pm via Microsoft Teams.

Main Modifications consultation ended on 17th April 2020.

Corby Borough Council Officers generally working from home. Contact by email in first instance.

Planning Committees suspended until further notice. Part 2 Plan at examination, Inspector was appointed in January 2020. Hearing Sessions due to commence on 9th June 2020 have been postponed, Inspector’s MIQs will be published once hearing sessions are rearranged.

Daventry District Council Pre-application service suspended. Remote Planning Committee scheduled for 21st May 2020 at 18:15 via Zoom.

Local Plan Part 2 adopted on 20th February 2020.

Derby City Council The team is working remotely and is still completing various functions to enable applications to be registered, validated, consulted upon, assessed and dispatched in a timely manner. Still accepting formal requests for pre-application advice but can only provide written responses as meetings and site visits aren't possible at the moment. Requires all communication via email.

The majority of public meetings up to and including 29 May 2020 have been postponed.

Any meetings that are required will be held remotely, under the provisions of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

Planning committee currently schedule for 28th May 2020 at 6pm.






Derbyshire County Council Offices are closed, staff are working from home, with no meetings to be undertaken.

Cabinet meetings being held virtually at this time. Planning Committee scheduled for 11th May 2020 was cancelled.

To be confirmed.

Derbyshire Dales District Council Town Hall is closed to visitors. Cancelled until further notice. No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan

East Lindsey District Council Senior officers have been granted special powers to make decisions following the need to cancel Planning Committee meetings. Scheme of delegation amended to allow further delegated decisions.

General enquiries number 01507 613175 and key contacts list https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/PlanningKeyContacts

April 2020 Committees cancelled. May commence in June 2020 as virtual Committees.

The 21st May 2020 Planning Policy Committee and 28th May 2020 Planning Committees will run as virtual meetings.

The Planning Policy Committee agenda sets out an update of the Local Plan Review with Issues and Options Paper to be presented to the 30th September 2020 meeting.


East Northamptonshire District Council Officers are working remotely, email them directly. First Virtual Committee scheduled for 20th May 2020 and 7:00pm via Zoom.

Two additional development sites requested to be subject to public consultation by Members, ended end March 2020. No further update.

Erewash Borough Council Offices are closed to the public. Planning Committee held and scheduled with reduced number of Councillors present.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for the 20th May 2020.

Decision taken to extend the public consultation on the proposals to develop housing at several sites in Erewash, the Borough Council would like to confirm its commitment to honour the 12-week consultation period.

The council has stopped the clock on the core strategy consultation from that point and will restart it when restrictions are eased.

Gedling Borough Council Officers working from home, contactable on email only.

All meetings during April 2020 have been cancelled. Exploring the option of virtual committee meetings going forward, and would prioritise most important applications going to each meeting to ensure each meeting is efficient. However, no progress as yet.

May Planning Committee cancelled – Next committee 17th June 2020.

To be confirmed.


https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/PlanningKeyContacts

https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/PlanningKeyContacts




Harborough District Council Officers working remotely and contactable by email. Virtual Planning Committees taking place successfully. Next Committee scheduled for 2nd June 2020 6:30pm.


High Peak District Council Offices closed to the public.

Currently experiencing technical issues with the submission of planning application online comments. The Council are working to correct this as soon as possible but in the meantime any comments can be directly sent to the email [email protected].

Planning Committee cancelled in May 2020. No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Automatic recorded message advises that only essential meetings will be held and these should be booked via the website. Local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May 2020 are postponed.

Constitution updated 1st April 2020 to delegate authority to Head of Planning to determine all applications.

First Virtual Planning Committee scheduled for 19th May 2020 6:30pm via Zoom.

Submission of Local Plan postponed until early 2021. Revision to the LDS will be considered by Internal Member Approval.

Kettering Borough Council Officers working from home.

Where an application needs to go to committee, they will be placed on a list whilst Kettering await confirmation on how future committee processes will be agreed.

First Planning Committee scheduled for 18th May 2020 at 6:00pm via Zoom and live-streamed on YouTube, no applications considered. Meeting to decide on revised Temporary Amendments and Protocol for the remote meeting.

Planning Policy Committee Scheduled for 21st May 2020 [Virtual], for Members to consider representations and Main Mods for Submission of Part 2 Local Plan to the Inspector.

Leicester City Council Some delays to the validation of new applications and responding to queries due to the closure of the offices.

Recent Planning Committee took place on 13 May 2020 [Virtually], next meeting not yet scheduled.

Draft Local Plan Consultation postponed.

Leicestershire County Council Proceeding with minimum quorum (18) for Council meetings and (3) for Executive meetings. Chief Exec to take action between meetings considered urgent after consultation. Development Control meeting scheduled on 21st May 2020.

Development Control and Regulatory Board scheduled for 21st May 2020.

Council’s Strategic Plan to be considered and approved by the Council at the 8th July 2020 meeting.

Lincoln City Council To be confirmed. The Council meeting on the 28th April 2020 was held as a virtual meeting and amendments to procedures were approved. 20th May 2020 Plans Committee to be virtual meeting.

To be confirmed.


mailto:PlanningComments%40highpeak.gov.uk?subject=




Lincolnshire County Council Suspending all formal council meetings for the immediate future and establishing alternative mechanisms for the decision-making process.

Cancelled until w/c 20th April 2020. To be confirmed.

Mansfield District Council To be confirmed. To be confirmed. Main Modifications consultation ended in December 2019. No update regarding impact of Coronavirus.

Melton Borough Council No information. 30th April 2020 Planning Committee due to take place virtually and streamed on YouTube. No future Planning Committees scheduled.


Newark and Sherwood Borough Council Officers working from home with the exception of a single officer in the office each day - contactable via email no phone contact with those at home. Email planning to contact an officer.

Undertaking virtual committee meetings.

Next committee meeting 2nd June 2020 – streamed on YouTube.

Review of the allocations and development management DPD delayed until further notice.

North East Derbyshire District Council Staff are working remotely.

There is a slight delay in the progression of planning applications. All site visits have been cancelled.

Currently unable to post Site Notices or Neighbour Notifications for new planning applications.

The Council will ensure that full consultation is carried out on these sites before any application is determined.

All council meetings are cancelled up until the May 2020 Full Council.

5th May 2020 Planning Committee has been cancelled. All meetings until the 14th May 2020 have been cancelled.

Targeted consultation on Housing Supply as part of Local Plan Examination has been postponed until after Easter on advice of the Planning Inspector.

North Kesteven District Council Meetings of Council and Sub-Committees suspended and Cttee Services actively investigating ways that decisions can continue. Officer meetings face to face only where essential.

Not fully processing applications until position on site visits and posting notices clarified.

Note on virtual meetings issued 15th April 2020 – first virtual meeting 23rd April 2020 Council.

Virtual meeting of Council 23rd April 2020 approved procedures for virtual meetings and temporary reduced membership of Planning Sub-Committees.

12th May 2020 Planning Sub-Committee scheduled as virtual meeting with Members access via Teams and a public live stream.

To be confirmed.

Region East Midlands continuedRegion East Midlands continued




North West Leicestershire District Council

Reviewing meetings coming up and decisions that need to be made, reviewing what is essential and what can be deferred. Officers generally working from home.

Planning Committee scheduled for 2nd June 2020 at 5:00pm

Local Plan Partial Review Hearing Sessions scheduled for 12th May 2020 have been postponed.

Council have published all responses to the Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions on 21st April 2020.

Northampton Borough Council Planning services are running at a reduced capacity. Officers working from home, contact via main Planning phoneline or email Officers directly.

The Cabinet Leader will make Key Decisions and other Cabinet members will make non-key decisions.

Members of the public are encouraged to write in their views on decisions to be made at committee meetings.

Special meeting of Planning Committee scheduled for 19th May 2020 at 5:00pm. Virtual meeting, streamed on YouTube.

Next meeting scheduled for 9th June 2020 at 5:00pm [Virtual].

To be confirmed.

Northamptonshire County Council Contact with officers by email only.

Plans to create two new unitary councils for the county from next April will continue within the planned timescales following the confirmation of new legislation by the government. This means the North and West Shadow Councils will still be set up in May 2020 to lead the preparations for creating the two unitary councils. Instead of being made up of newly elected councillors, they will combine the membership of the existing district, borough and county councils. The existing councillors will sit on the shadow authorities until 1st April 2021.

Some meetings to go ahead remotely via Zoom – no Planning Committees scheduled.

To be confirmed.





Nottingham City Council The duty officer service has been suspended. Currently unable to take incoming calls to the Planning phone number. Email planning to speak with an officer.

Site notices are being sent to applicants and neighbour consultation being sent out once a week.

Applicants to send photos of site in.

Committee meetings taking place virtually – however, no public speaking is allowed.

For applications being sent to April committee delegation has been given to the leader of the council in consultation with chair, and vice chair of committee.

No committee meeting in May 2020, but Council are looking to upgrade IT systems to allow virtual meetings. No published committee meeting dates for the upcoming months.

No planning committee meetings scheduled within the next month.

LP recently adopted, no expected progress in the short term.

Nottinghamshire County Council All Committee meetings cancelled until further notice

Planning committee 2nd June 2020 expected to be taking place virtually however no further guidance as yet.

To be confirmed.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Authority delegated to Leader of Council and Chief Exec to determine how the Council is to function in the immediate to medium term. All meetings untill May 2020 cancelled.

Remote Development Control Committee scheduled for 21st May 2020 at 6:00pm. Live Stream on meeting on Council website (via YouTube)


Peak District National Park Authority New planning applications are currently being registered and allocated to officers. However, due to reduced staffing numbers and remote working, there is a significant delay throughout the application process.

Site visits and meetings are not being carried out. Consultation on planning applications will continue.

The consultation processes for applications have changed. Local newspapers are not being published and therefore we are unable to post Notices in the press. Due to restrictions, we are unable to erect yellow site notices. Not all applications require a site notice to be displayed, but where they are required we are providing them to applicants and asking that they display the notice for a period of 3 weeks at the application site.

Planning Committee has been suspended. The Chief Executive will be using her Emergency Delegation to make planning decisions that can not wait until Committee meetings resume. Details of any decisions that will be made under this delegation will be published 5 working days before the decision is to be made to allow for representations.






Rushcliffe Borough Council Officers wfh, only contactable via email. Contact reception to forward details to an officer.

Virtual planning committee, however, no public interaction. Agents/public etc to submit their statements of no more than 300 words to the council for their distribution amongst committee members.

Next committee 14th May taking place on zoom, link to meeting contained within the agenda.

To be confirmed.

Rutland County Council To be confirmed. Council meetings operating ‘virtually’ via Zoom. No future Planning Committee scheduled.

Reg 19 Consultation on Local Plan postponed due to issues of legal requirement to deposit documents in libraries.

South Derbyshire District Council No longer offering face to face services at the Civic Offices, contact only by e-mail or phone.

All Council meetings cancelled until further notice. No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan

South Holland District Council Reviewing need to report applications to Committee with Chairman. Applications being registered but site visits and site notices cancelled.

Council meeting of the 13th May 2020 approved a revised officer delegation protocol – delegation of all decisions on planning applications to officers with arrangements for referral to Chairman’s Panel where decision to take an application to Plans Committee may be made.

All non-decision making and non-urgent meetings have been cancelled until the end of May 2020. Any decisions on meetings such as full Council, Cabinet and Planning will be made on a case-by-case basis nearer the time.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 27 May 2020 – no update if Virtual.


South Kesteven District Council Pre-application services withdrawn. Key decisions will be made by the Leader and non-key decisions by individual Cabinet Members as normal. Officer delegated decisions will continue to be made as normal.

Restrictions in place on site visits.

Non-Statutory site notices replaced with wider neighbour notification.

The 12th May 2020 Plans Committee to be held remotely through Skype with limitations on numbers of public speaking. Written speeches to be submitted before meeting.






South Northamptonshire District Council To be confirmed. Next Virtual Planning Committee scheduled for 14th May 2020 – streamed live on YouTube. 23rd April 2020 was streamed successfully. Members of the public who wish to speak at Committee are required to pre-record their comments or the Chairman will read aloud a printed version.

Modifications Consultation (Reg 19) ended on 3rd April 2020. Currently with Inspector to be considered as part of the ongoing examination.

Wellingborough District Council Prioritisation for applications validated from week commencing 16th March 2020 will be given to prior approval applications.

No meetings taking place at this time. No immediate work scheduled on Local Plan

West Lindsey District Council Expect delays to decision making. Asking for photos of site to be submitted with applications to reduce need for Officer site visits.

All Council meetings have been cancelled until the end of April 2020, except the Planning Committee which will run a minimal quorum committee.

1st April 2020 Planning meeting cancelled.

The 29th April 2020 Plans Committee went ahead as a virtual meeting and there is a webcast on the website. Next virtual meeting scheduled for the 27th May 2020.

To be confirmed.




Region East of EnglandContact Nicky Parsons and Anas Makda

County LPA Working procedures and practices

Committee meetings Local Plan & other Policy Document production

Bedfordshire Bedford Borough Council Planning staff are all working from home, and are contactable via email or telephone. Meetings can be arranged via video conference/ phone.Site notices are still being displayed by Officers.With regard to archaeological fieldwork, it may be possible to undertake some on-site monitoring where the Council are able to comply with the government’s guidance on social distancing

Planning Committees have been suspended for the time being. At the 23rd March 2020 Planning Committee members resolved to delegate committee applications to planning officers unless the Conservative, Liberal or Labour Party Group Leaders, or Chair of Planning Committee or the Chief Executive resolves that the application should be held in abeyance until the next sitting of the planning committee.27th April 2020 Committee was cancelled, 18 May is scheduled as a potential virtual meeting date.

The Council adopted a new Local Plan in January 2020, there is currently no on-going local plan work.

Central Bedfordshire Planning staff are all working from home, with meetings via video conference. Officers will assess whether site visits can be made safely on a case by case basis.

The 1st April and 29th April Development Management Committee meeting has been cancelled.On 27th April 2020, a Development Management Panel met. This panel has no decision making powers, its purpose was to allow members to share their views on officers’ reports, and make recommendations to the Chief Executive to execute under emergency powers. The Council anticipates the Committee will be operating virtually from May onwards.

The Council has recently written to the Local Plan Inspector (24th March 2020) confirming that Planning Policy Officers feel that it is achievable to meet the deadline of 30th April 2020 to submit new evidence. Notwithstanding this, the Inspectors have confirmed that additional hearing sessions originally scheduled for the early summer are likely to be pushed back to September at the earliest.





Luton Planning staff are all working from home, and are contactable via email or telephone. The duty planning officer is available 9am to 1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by phone on 01582 546317. General planning enquiries can also be made via telephone 01582 546605 or email [email protected]

On 25th March 2020, held a partly virtual planning committee. Four members physically attended, with meeting held through Skype allowing speakers to present and others to observe the meeting. Only the councillors who were physically present at the meeting could vote. At a further ‘virtual’ planning committee on 22nd April, emergency scheme of delegation was adopted to reduce the number of applications brought to the committee, as well as introduction of an emergency right to speak procedure at planning committee. The 6th May 2020 committee meeting will determine applications.

The Council adopted a new Local Plan in 2017, timescales for review of the Plan have not been published as yet.The consultation phase of the new Luton Town Centre Masterplan has been placed on hold.

Cambridgeshire Cambridge City Council Planning staff are all working from home, with meetings via video conference/ phone.The Duty Planning Officer is available via email and phone on 01223 457200.Officers are not conducting site visits unless in exceptional circumstances.

Postponed all scheduled meetings of the Planning Committee for the foreseeable future.The Council will provide an update as soon as new guidance is announced.A provisional date of 28th May 2020 has been given for a meeting of the Planning and Transport Scrutiny committee.

A meeting of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group is scheduled for 2nd June 2020, at which an update on the GCLP and the timetable will be discussed.

East Cambridgeshire District Planning staff are all working from home.Enquires to the Duty Planning Officer should be sent via email [email protected]

The 20th April 2020 Planning Committee will be held virtually via Zoom video conferencing. Members of the public are able to speak as usual via Zoom. The next Planning Committees are scheduled for 6th May and 1st July 2020. The meetings will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The Council withdrew an emerging Local Plan in February 2019, no information has been provided on preparation of a new Local Plan.

Region East of England continued

mailto:developmentcontrol%40luton.gov.uk?subject=

mailto:[email protected]






Fenland District Council Planning staff are working from home and applications are being validated with only minor delays.

The 22 April Planning Committee meeting was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 6th May 2020 and will be held via Zoom. Members of the public will be able to participate in line with normal speaking procedures.

Consultation on the draft Local Plan scheduled to take place in summer 2020 has been postponed until further notice. Consultation on the Local Plan CIL & Viability Report is proceeding, with a deadline of 4th May 2020 for comments.

Huntingdonshire District Council

The Planning Department is operating as a limited service.The majority of Planning staff are working from home.Council expect there to be delays in the determination of planning applications.

The Development Management Committee will be held virtually on 18th May 2020 via Microsoft Teams.

The Local Plan was adopted in May 2019, there is no on-going local plan work.

Peterborough City Council The decision has been taken by Peterborough City Council that Planning and Development Control is an essential, rather than a critical service. At this time, no staff have yet been redeployed to other critical services but the situation remains fluid and the Council are on standby for such a decision to be made.

Cancelled Planning Committee on the 21st April 2020.A Committee meeting will be held on 12th May 2020 to discuss temporary decision making arrangements, delegating determination authority to allow backlog of applications to be determined. The meeting will be streamed on YouTube.

The Joint Minerals and Waste Development Plan was submitted for examination in March 2020. Hearing sessions are expected to take place in the autumn, details awaited.

South Cambridgeshire District Council

Planning staff are all working from home, with meetings via video conference/ phone.The Duty Planning Officer is available via email.Officers are not conducting site visits. The Council have also reported difficulties with the switching of IT systems, and so there is a considerable backlog with validating planning applications.

The first virtual Planning Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on 13th May 2020 via Microsoft Teams. An amended scheme for public speaking will be presented for approval. Further meetings are also scheduled to take place on 20th May and 26th May. Members of the public wishing to speak at the meeting need to contact the Support Officer by noon the Monday before the meeting – 03450 450 500 Email: [email protected]

A meeting of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group is scheduled for 2nd June 2020, at which an update on the GCLP and the timetable will be discussed.








Essex Basildon Borough Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email to discuss current and potential projects. Planning Officers will continue to conduct site visits.Face to face meetings are cancelled until further notice.

Planning Committee meetings have been re-started. The next meeting is to be held virtually on 5th May 2020.

The Council is currently awaiting direction from PINS on establishing a programme for examination of the new Local Plan, which is currently held up due to Air Quality issues.

Braintree District Council The Duty Planner Service (Tuesday and Thursday mornings) is still available, and customers will need to email their enquiry to planning.The Council are unable to commence public consultation on certain applications received from 24th March 2020 i.e. send notification letters to neighbouring properties, display a site notice(s) or advertising in the press (if applicable). As a result there will likely be delays in determining certain applications. The Planning Officer will keep applicants and agents updated. Applications will be held in abeyance until such time as the public consultation on the application can commence.

Planning Committee will take place on 12th May 2020, held on Microsoft Teams and streamed on YouTube for public viewing.

The Council is awaiting notification from PINS on the examination programme for section 2 of the Local Plan.

Brentwood Borough Council Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email.Pre-application meetings are being held online and by telephone.

Planning Committee will take place on 13th May 2020, held on Microsoft Teams.

The new Local Plan was submitted for examination in February 2020, and Inspectors have been appointed. No correspondence has been made available as yet on the expected programme of the examination.






Castle Point Borough Council Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email.Planning applications are still being processed but no meetings or site visits are currently taking place.

Postponed all scheduled meetings for the foreseeable future.

Update provided on 22nd April 2020 that the Council is preparing a Consultation Statement following pre-submission Local Plan consultation. The Local Plan is to be submitted for examination in summer 2020.

Chelmsford City Council Planning staff are all working from home and are available by email.The Council have suspended all meetings with planning officers. However, planning advice can be requested online.

The Planning Committee scheduled for 5th May 2020 was cancelled. The next meeting will take place on 9 June. The agenda, when made available, will contain details on how the meeting will take place and how members of the public can participate.

An Extraordinary Council has been scheduled for 27th May 2020 to consider the adoption of the new Local Plan.

Colchester Borough Council The Council is monitoring the current situation closely following information and advice published by the government.

The Council has agreed to hold Planning committee meetings behind closed doors with five elected members. Members will be able to approve, refuse or defer to a subsequent full committee once these meetings are operating again.

The Council is monitoring the current situation closely following information and advice published by the government.

Epping Forest District Council To be confirmed. A meeting of the Area Planning Sub-Committee East will take place virtually on 18th May 2020.

The Council wrote to the Inspector on 27th April 2020 to provide an update on the progress of the Actions set out in her Advice after the Hearings. Consultation on Main Mods is still expected to take place from October 2020.

Harlow Council To be confirmed. Cancelled all scheduled meetings for the foreseeable future.

Consultation on main mods has been extended by one month, to 31 May 2020.

Maldon District Council To be confirmed. Planning Committee provisionally scheduled for 27th May 2020.

No local plan work on-going.


https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-permission-and-applications/request-planning-advice/





Rochford District Council To be confirmed. The Council’s first remote meeting will take place on 7th May 2020, using Zoom conferencing. Members of the public will be able to watch. Public statements have to be submitted the day before a meeting, and statements will be read out (5 minutes maximum).

To be confirmed.

Southend on Sea Borough Council

To be confirmed. A special meeting of the Development Control committee is scheduled for 18th May 2020, to be held via Microsoft Teams, at which applications will be determined.

To be confirmed.

Tendring District Council Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email.The Council are running their planning team as normal and have experienced only a slight dip in application submissions.

Postponed all scheduled meetings for the foreseeable future.The Council have increased their delegation powers and so have avoided the need for committees. They now have a few applications that have been put forward for a committee decision.A Planning Committee is scheduled for 19 May 2020, which will be held remotely.

To be confirmed.

Thurrock District Council To be confirmed. Planning Committee scheduled for 23rd April 2020 postponed until 7th May 2020. However, this meeting has also now been postponed and no details provided of further committee dates.

To be confirmed.

Uttlesford District Council The Duty Planning officer service is not currently available, the Council are considering alternative arrangements.

The Council are recording comments from the public and playing at their meetings, which they are holding virtually. They are currently planning on having committees every two weeks. The first meetings are scheduled for 6th May and 20th May 2020, to be held on Zoom.

At an Extraordinary Council meeting on 30th April 2020, councillors decided to withdraw the emerging Local Plan and start work on a new development plan.






Norfolk Breckland District Council Planning Applications are being validated but the Council expects delays in determination as site visits are not possible and neighbour consultation is limited.

Planning Committee meetings for May 2020 have been cancelled.

To be confirmed.

Broadland District Council The Planning Department is operating as a limited service (no site notices or visits for applications).The Department is available by phone 01603 430509 or email [email protected].

Planning Committee scheduled for 1st April 2020 has been cancelled.A Committee meeting on 20th May 2020 is scheduled as going ahead.

Consultation on the Draft Strategy and Sites Plan closed on 16th March 2020, and there is a deadline of 30th April 2020 for providing new sites for consideration. No information has been provided yet on whether there will be any delay in providing a response to the consultation.

Broads Authority Planning staff are all working from home and are contactable by email or telephone. The duty planning officer is available daily 9am to 5pm and calls are forwarded from the main switchboard which remains open. Officers are undertaking site visits for applications and to post site notices, but this is restricted to external views only, is by appointment and with strict social distancing observed. No site visit currently for pre-application discussions.

April and early May 2020 meetings cancelled, but have scheduled virtual meeting for 29th May 2020. Emergency scheme of delegation agreed with Chair and VC, but not yet used.

Plan adopted in May 2019, so no current statutory work underway. A number of guides and SPDs in production, so consultation periods extended.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council

To be confirmed. Postponed all scheduled meetings. for the foreseeable future. The Council putting in place the IT arrangements to enable virtual committee meetings to take place as soon as possible.

Consultation on the Local Plan Part 2 – Final Draft Plan is currently open until 22nd May 2020.








King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council

The Duty Planner service has been suspended for an initial period of 12 weeks.Planning officers are continuing to determine applications, although there may be delays in processing applications. Neighbours, parish councils and other consultees will continue to be notified of new planning applications.

Planning Committee has been cancelled for 30th March and 27th April 2020. A virtual meeting of the committee is scheduled for 1st June 2020.

No information published on whether progress on the Pre-submission Plan development has been affected.

North Norfolk District Council Applications are being validated but there may be a delay in processing and determination timescales. A standing 4 months extension to all new submitted applications is currently being requested.

A Development Committee meeting was hosted remotely on 2nd April 2020. Speaking arrangements have been suspended, with statements for circulation to be submitted instead. Provisional dates of 28th May and 25th June 2020 have been provided for subsequent Committee meetings.

Work on the Local Plan is continuing at a reduced capacity.

Norwich City Council Most planning staff are now working from home. Recommended that officers are contacted on mobile numbers or emailed in the first instance as they are unable to answer calls made to office landlines. Members of the support team are available via telephone.

Council meetings will now be considered on a case by case basis.An extraordinary meeting of the planning applications committee was held on Monday 30th March 2020. Legal concerns were raised regarding the scheme of delegation agreed at that meeting, and a further meeting on 23rd April 2020 was conducted to ensure the scheme of delegation accords with government regulations. However, the next committee meeting scheduled for 14th May 2020 was cancelled. Currently, the next meeting is in the calendar for 9th July 2020.







South Norfolk District Council The Council are operating a reduced service (no site notices and visits for applications).Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone and email.

A remote Development Management Committee will be held on 6th May 2020. Members of the public can make written representations, no public speaking is possible.


Northamptonshire Corby Staff are mostly working from home, contactable by emails, some are contactable by phone but not all. Currently operating a rota system for skeleton staff in the offices but this is being reviewed regularly. Designated Officer responsible for site visits and notices but should be agreed over the phone.

Planning Committee meetings have been postponed.

Local Plan has been submitted, Examination paused as per PINS guidance.

Daventry Officers are working from home and visiting the office once a week to collect post etc. Officers contactable by email. Advising applications will take longer to process. Pre-application service has been suspended but any existing pre- apps will be processed.

Council meetings cancelled until further notice.

Local Plan Part 2 was adopted in February 2020.

East Northamptonshire Officers are working from home, contactable by email, also email to request a call back. Pre-apps are being processed. All meetings are now to take place over the phone. Unnecessary site visits will not take place.

Planning Committee arrangements are under review.

Proposed new site allocation consultation closed 23rd March 2020.

Kettering Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email.

Awaiting guidance. Report was due to go to Planning Policy Committee to agree submission of SSP2 but meeting postponed until after 30th April 2020, Council are awaiting guidance.






Northampton All staff are now working from home, running at reduced capacity.

14th April 2020 Planning Committee is cancelled.A special meeting of the Planning Committee will take place on 19th May 2020, and will be streamed on YouTube.

Planning staff are all working from home and are available by email.

South Northamptonshire No longer sending out letters to neighbouring properties, publicising by way of a site notice only.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Updated on ongoing basis- contact the relevant officer to confirm that the meeting is going ahead as scheduled. A Planning Committee on 23rd April 2020 was held virtually, broadcast on YouTube. The next meeting will take place on 14th May 2020, and will again be held virtually.

Main Mods consultation 20th February 2020 to 3rd April 2020. Advising the next stage of the Examination in Public is achievable remotely for now but being kept under review with PINS.

Wellingborough Working from home, planning applications are being validated, site notices going out, site visits are put on hold due to social distancing.

Planning Committee arrangements are under review.

To be confirmed.

Hertfordshire Broxbourne Borough Council To be confirmed. Planning Committee meetings are currently postponed.

The new Local Plan was found sound on 14th April 2020, it will be presented to the Council for adoption in due course.

Dacorum Borough Council To be confirmed. Planning Committee meetings are currently postponed. Items on the agenda for the 30th April 2020 meeting will be delegated for a final decision by the Assistant Director for Planning and Group Manager. A five day consultation window was made available for new comments from the community, Parish and Town Councils and DMC members, for officers to address before a final consultation meeting with the DMC chair or vice-chair before the final determination is made by officers. The next Committee meeting will be held on 21st May 2020.

Dacorum published an updated LDS on 21st April 2020, stating that the Council is continuing to work towards a Pre-Submission Draft Consultation commencing late 2020.






East Herts Council Planning applications are still being processed subject to some delay. The duty planning officer can be contacted on the telephone on 01279 655261 and by email [email protected]. The pre-app process is functioning as usual, and officers are working remotely.

East Herts DC holding its first virtual committee meeting on 29/4, and will be a live webcast. They are not reducing the number of members involved, and are considering how objectors/supporters can contribute to the meeting. There is no desire to change the delegation process.The 20th May 2020 meeting has been cancelled.

To be confirmed.

Hertsmere Borough Council To be confirmed. The Planning Committee on 23rd April 2020 is to be held online, hosted by the Council itself.21st May 2020 meeting scheduled to go ahead.

No information published on timescales for publication of draft Local Plan.

North Hertfordshire District Council

To be confirmed. Planning Committee meetings are currently cancelled, the Council is currently considering the options to deliver virtual committee meetings. Planning Control Committee meeting currently scheduled for 28th May 2020.

On 13th March 2020, it was confirmed that hearing sessions scheduled for March and early April 2020 have been postponed until further notice.

St Albans City and District Council

The Planning Department is continuing to operate and process planning applications during the lockdown period.

A virtual Planning Committee (Central) will take place on 18th May 2020.

Inspectors letter received on 14 April 2020 raising duty to co-operate concerns.

Stevenage Borough Council To be confirmed. There is no information on the Planning Committee meetings, although it is noted that the Development Board met on 7 April via tele-conference.

The Council is currently undertaking JR proceedings against the report of the Inspector which found a failure to meet the duty to co-operate.

Three Rivers District Council The Duty Planning Officer is available via e-mail [email protected] or telephone 01923 776611.

Planning Committee scheduled for 23rd April 2020 has been cancelled. A virtual Committee meeting will take place on 21st May 2020.

The Council is working to produce a new Local Plan for publication in Summer 2020.








Watford Borough Council To be confirmed. The Council has approved delegated authority to specified officers. Virtual committee meetings will be held, at which the committee would present their opinions and the respective officer would carry out the delegated authority. The first of these virtual meetings took place on 1st April 2020. The next meeting will be on 13th May 2020.

The Council consulted on the first draft Local Plan in late 2019. The Council is yet to publish its response to the representations received.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

To be confirmed. Any planning applications which are called-in for determination byDevelopment Management Committee will be delayed until further notice.For existing planning application, the Council will continue to determine planning applications, particularly where consultation and site visits have already taken place and the application involved limited consultation such as prior approvals.The Council will be cautious when determining newer planning applications, particularly whereconsultation or site visits have yet to take place.A Committee meeting will take place on 28th May 2020.

Stage 8 hearing sessions scheduled for Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May 2020 have had to be postponed






Suffolk Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email. The Council are suspending the displaying of site notices and will be undertaking publicity by neighbour notification letter and website publication. Pre-application meeting will be available by telephone or via a web conferencing service.

The Council are reviewing all of those cases that would normally be reported to planning committees and willbe taking a case by case approach.The Council have re-scheduled Committee meetings, with the first virtual Development Control meeting to be held on 28th April 2020. A meeting of the Mid Suffolk Development Control Committee A will be held on 13th May 2020.

Consultation on the SA Scoping Report in on-going, with a deadline of 24th April 2020.

East Suffolk Council To be confirmed. The Council will temporarily increase the delegations to the Head of Planning and Coastal Management (HPCM), in consultation with Advisory Panels (APs). The Advisory Panel will consist of the two Planning Committee Chairmen and Vice Chairmen and a member from an opposition group. There must be at least three councillors in attendance.Remote meetings have been scheduled – Planning Committee North on 19th May 2020 and South on 26th May 2020.

The Council responded to issues raised by the Inspector post-Examination in early April 2020. Consultation on the Main Mods to the final draft Local Plan is being held for ten weeks, from 1 May to 10th July 2020 (5pm).

Ipswich Borough Council To be confirmed. Forthcoming Planning Committee meetings have been cancelled.

To be confirmed.

West Suffolk Council Planning staff are all working from home and are available by phone or email. All pre-booked meetings will now be changed to telephone appointments.

Committee meeting scheduled for 1st April 2020 was cancelled. The next scheduled meeting was for 29th April 2020, this has been moved to 13th May 2020 and will take place virtually on Microsoft Teams.

The Issues and Options Consultation, planned for May 2020, has been postponed until further notice.




Region LondonContact Jim Tarzey and Beth Lambourne


Barking and Dagenham All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 1st June 2020.

Recently undertaken consultation on Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18). Next consultation (Regulation 19) scheduled for summer 2020.

Barnet All officers working from home but with a reduced service. Reduced telephone service. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 22nd June 2020.

Undertook a consultation on the draft Local Plan between January and March 2020. Recently undertaken consultation on Joint North London Waste Plan. Timescale for submission to Secretary of State to be confirmed.

Bexley All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be carried out virtually via Skype.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 21st May 2020.

Currently preparing Draft Local Plan which is scheduled to be published in Summer 2020.

Brent All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Date of next Planning Committee TBC.

Local Plan submitted to Secretary of State in March 2020. Timescale of examination to be confirmed.

Bromley All officers working from home. Contacting officers via email rather than phone is preferred. Applicants are being asked to put up site notices. All decisions that cannot be deferred will be delegated to Assistant Director of Development Control and Planning but only where a majority of the Committee/Sub-Committee who would have made the decision support the recommendation.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 21st May 2020.

No immediate work scheduled on local plan or any other documents.

Camden All officers working from home. Validation of applications is delayed, up to 7/8 weeks. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually. Council still able to put up notices. Council requesting additional photographs in lieu of site visits.

Committee meetings to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 4th June 2020.

Consultation on the Site Allocations Local Plan took place between 13th February and 27th March 2020. A virtual hearing on the Draft CIL Charging Schedule is scheduled for 27th May 2020. Members of the public can pre-register to attend.



Region London continued


City of London All officers working from home. Currently unable to display site notices. Virtual meetings taking place via Microsoft Teams.

Committee meetings to be held virtually.Planning Committee scheduled for 2nd June 2020.

The Proposed Submission Draft City Plan 2036 was considered at the Planning and Transport Committee on 31st March. Under Urgency Procedures, the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee agreed that the Draft Plan could proceed to formal consideration by the Policy and Research Committee and Court of Common Committee. The Policy and Research Committee took place on 7th May 2020.

City of Westminster All officers working from home. Requesting additional photographs to be submitted with pre-application requests.

Next Planning Sub-Committee scheduled for 12th May 2020.Next Planning Major Applications Committee scheduled for 26th May 2020.

Local Plan Examination on hold. Inspectors carrying out a preliminary appraisal of the plan and may request further information on certain issues.

Croydon All officers working from home. A number of planning officers have been re-assigned to other parts of the Council. Non-critical phone services are now closed.Pre-application meetings to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams / Zoom or via written response. Additional photographs requested to supplement applications where necessary. Some applications on hold if site visit deemed necessary.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 18th June 2020.

Next consultation on Local Plan Review Preferred Options scheduled for late 2020.




Ealing All officers working from home. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits.Meetings taking place virtually via Skype or Microsoft Teams. Council has issued a Position Statement on consultation and engagement on planning applications. For major applications a collaborative approach with planning officers is encouraged to ensure enhanced engagement and an appropriate mix, to be determined on a case by case basis. Applicants may also be asked to set up a website to coincide with submission of major applications, to include 3D models and to agree a Statement of Community Involvement with the Council. Formal consultation period has been extended from 21 days to 42 days. This includes applications submitted from 19 March 2020.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Planning Committee scheduled for 20th May 2020 (Provisional).

In initial stages of preparing Local Plan Review.

Enfield All officers working from home. Site visits will only be undertaken if deemed essential. Additional photographs requested to supplement applications where necessary.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 21st May via Microsoft Teams.

Recently undertaken consultation on Joint North London Waste Plan. Timescale for submission to Secretary of State to be confirmed.

Hackney All officers working from home.The duty planning officer cannot be contacted directly via telephone. However, messages can be left for the duty planning officer to return calls or emails. Council encourages emails via the planning service which will be returned via email or telephone. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Virtual Planning Committee has been carried out with no issues.Next Planning Committee scheduled for 3rd June 2020.The Council used Google Meet for its planning sub-committee meeting and will use this platform for all virtual meetings.

Hackney Local Plan was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in January 2020. Timescale of the Examination in Public to be confirmed. Recently undertaken consultation on Joint North London Waste Plan. Timescale for submission to Secretary of State to be confirmed.

Hammersmith and Fulham All officers working from home. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits. Exploring the use of live stream for site visits.Consultation period for major applications has been extended to 30 days.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 2nd June 2020.






Haringey All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually. Site visits still taking place subject to conditions. Delegated powers have been increased.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 8th June 2020.


Harrow All officers working from home. Officers contactable via email only. An online ‘Planning Enquiry Form’ has been uploaded onto the website for general planning queries. Photographs requested in lieu of site visit.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 20th May 2020.


Havering All officers working from home. Duty planner service still available via call.Only available, Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9:30 and 11:30 am.Pre-application meetings to be held virtually.

Date of next Planning Committee TBC. Timescale for the Main Modifications to be confirmed.

Hillingdon All officers working from home. Next Central and South Planning Committee scheduled for 19th May 2020. Next Major Applications Planning Sub-Committee (HS2) scheduled for 20th May and 27th May 2020. Next North Planning Committee scheduled for 26th May 2020. Next Planning and Transport Petition Hearing scheduled for 10th June 2020.


Hounslow All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually. Applicants are being asked to put up site notices. A number of planning officers have been re-assigned to other parts of the Council. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 14th May and 21st May 2020.

Submission of Draft Local Plan Review scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary of State in Summer 2020.

Islington All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to take place virtually. Validation of applications delayed.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 18th May 2020.Next Planning Sub-Committee B scheduled for 21st May 2020 via Zoom.

Islington Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State in February 2020. Timescale of Examination in Public to be confirmed. Recently undertaken consultation on Joint North London Waste Plan. Timescale for submission to Secretary of State to be confirmed.





Lambeth All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 26th May 2020.To be carried out via Microsoft Teams.

Pre-submission consultation on Draft Revised Lambeth Local Plan and Draft CIL Charging Schedule took place between January and March 2020. Consultation on Draft Affordable Workspace SPD and Design Code SPD took place between February and April 2020.

Lewisham Working from home. Meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee C scheduled for 4th June 2020. Next Strategic Planning Committee scheduled for 9th June 2020.Next Planning Committee A scheduled for 25th June 2020.

Date of next consultation on the New Lewisham Local Plan 2018 - 2033 to be confirmed.

Merton All officers working from home. Delegated powers for Senior Officers have been increased.Site visits are not being carried out unless deemed essential. Requesting additional photographs to supplement applications where necessary.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Date of next Planning Committee scheduled for 28th June 2020.

Next consultation for New Local Plan scheduled for September 2020.

Newham All officers working from home. Planning Duty service suspended. Email contact only with limited response.Calls limited to urgent matters only.

Date of next Strategic Development Committee scheduled for 18th May 2020.Date of next Local Development Committee scheduled for 19th May 2020.

Progressing emerging policy.

Redbridge All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits.

Date of next Planning Committee scheduled for 22nd June 2020.






Richmond upon Thames All officers working from home. Consultation for major applications currently on hold. The process for consultation is being reviewed. Consultation for other applications are being carried out on a case-by-case basis. Photographs are being requested in lieu of site visits.Virtually meetings are taking place via Microsoft Teams / Zoom.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 3rd June 2020.


Royal Borough of Greenwich All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be replaced with telephone calls where possible. Validation of application is delayed.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 19th May and 21st May 2020.

Consultation on Site Allocations Proposed Submission version scheduled for early 2020, however this is currently on hold.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually via Skype or Microsoft Teams.Not currently undertaking site visits. Photographs requested in lieu of site visits.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 12th May and 14th May 2020.

No Planning Policy Consultations being undertaken during this time.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames All officers working from home. Increased delegated powers given to the Chief Executive / Executive Directors where necessary.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 3rd June 2020.

Timescale for next stage of New Local Plan to be confirmed.

Southwark All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually. Site visits to be carried out virtually to be agreed on a site by site basis. Additional photographs being requested to supplement applications where necessary. Consultation being extended from 21 days to 28 days.

Committee meetings to be held virtually. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 1st June 2020.

New Southwark Plan submitted to Secretary of State in January 2020. Timescale of Examination in Public to be confirmed. Consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement has been extended.

Sutton All officers working from home. Next Planning Committee scheduled for 3rd June 2020.


Tandridge All officers working from home. No site visits currently being undertaken. Requesting additional photographs to supplement applications.

Next Planning Committee scheduled for 28th May 2020

Planning Inspector currently preparing post-hearing response following public hearing sessions carried out in November 2019.





Tower Hamlets All officers working from home. Duty service available via email.Pre-applications to be dealt with via written responses. May not be possible for specific Officers to be contacted directly by phone.

Carrying out virtual meetings.Next Planning Committee scheduled for 4th June 2020 (Provisional).


Waltham Forest All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams/ Zoom. Applicants are being asked to put up site notices. Photographs are requested in lieu of site visits.

Committee meetings to be held virtually.Next Planning Committee scheduled for 2nd June (Provisional).


Wandsworth All officers working from home. Pre-application meetings to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Currently not consulting on large scale applications. Site visits are not being carried out unless deemed essential. Requesting additional photographs to supplement applications where necessary.

Committee meetings to be held virtually.Next Planning Committee scheduled for 20th May 2020.






Darlington The Council is aiming to keep business as usual in terms of working practice. The majority of staff are working from home and the Council is still accepting and processing applications, although there may be delays in determining them.Pre-application advice - The council is still able to offer the majority of these services. Meetings will be held via telephone. No site visits will be conducted as part of the pre-application service; officers will be able to consider any photographs provided. Listed Building enquiries can be emailed to [email protected] w.c. 18 May 2020, the Council are starting to do neighbourhood notifications and putting site notices up. Site visits will be considered if it is safe to do so.Applicants are asked to provide comprehensive photographs of the outside and inside of a property and/or relevant views out. The case officer may contact applicants to request photographs of particular elements of the site, and from certain vistas. It may be the case that, without a site visit, some applications will not be able to be progressed at this time, and the council will consider a range of options available, including long-term extensions of time or withdrawal of the application altogether.

Officers are contactable via email and can make outgoing phone calls to any contact details provided.Delegated planning decisions (the significant majority) will continue to be issued electronically, where possible. At present there are no virtual planning committees planned by the Council, however this is being looked into.

The Council is unable to progress at the moment with Local Plan as they consider they cannot comply with Reg 35 of 2012 Regulations and could infringe Equalities Act.No timescale at this time. Anyone who has previously commented on the Local Plan, or registered on the consultation portal, will be updated as soon as a decision is made.

Durham The Council is still progressing with applications and publicity but will not be able to post site notices. They are therefore asking Applicants to do this, if they are willing/able.

Planning committees at both a County and Area level have been suspended with decision making powers handed to senior officers and Councillors. Planning applications will now be determined by the interim Director of Economy Geoff Paul in conjunction with Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration Carl Marshall. Like other authorities the Council will be examining the feasibility of hosting committees online.

The Council has decided to postpone the consultation on the Main Modifications to its emerging County Durham Plan (having completed its examination in February). They will be keeping this decision under review.

Region North EastContact Sandra Manson and Jane Campbell




Region North East continued


Gateshead Planning staff are working from home. As a result, there may be a delay in receiving a response to any enquiries. However, all service areas are currently operational, and the Council is working to ensure that delays to the consideration of applications are kept to a minimum whilst still complying with correct legal processes. As a result of these changes, the Council is unable to process any paper-based correspondence or applications or take phone payments. The Council is able to register applications made via planning portal and take into account comments made to planning applications electronically. Until they are able to undertake site visits safely, they may not be able to make decisions on planning applications.All face to face meetings and site visits/inspections have been suspended until further notice.

Upcoming planning committees have been cancelled whilst the Council considers options. Provisional plans have been examined to defer decisions to senior officers and Councillors. Subject to the secondary legislation to allow committees to take place online, the Council will then be looking at how best to implement an online committee system if practicable.

The Council has undertaken a review of the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan and concluded no need for it to be updated. The Making Spaces for Growing Places plan is being examined and the Council has asked the Inspector whether it is appropriate to consult on proposed main modifications. This position is to be updated shortly.

Hartlepool All planning staff are working from home and the aim is for staff to work as they usually would.

The Council Legal Services team are looking into the secondary legislation that facilitates online committees and decision making. The Council is currently dealing with applications that can be decided through delegation. At the moment, applications that have to go to committee are likely to be extended until a solution for committee meetings is found.Planning Committees remain suspended.

Two Supplementary Planning Documents have recently been consulted on. . They are unable to go to committee until it is resolved how committees will progress.




Middlesbrough All planning staff are working from home and all work is aimed to be dealt with electronically where possible. The Council is still accepting and determining applications as usual.

Committee dates are in the process of being re-set for the year ahead. The Council is working to produce a process in which committee meetings can be held through following the guidance to be published by Central Government. Electronic/virtual consultations are therefore being considered. In the short term it is expected decisions will be delegated where possible to the Head of Planning and Chair of Planning Committee.

No changes are proposed to planning policy. Consultations on planning policy documents will not be run in this period. The Council is continuing with background research to inform emerging planning policy documents.

Newcastle The Planning team are working from home and applications continue to be accepted and validated if submitted electronically. Measures are also being put in place and it is anticipated that the Authority can commence posting site notices on applications imminently.

The Council are hosting their first virtual planning committee via YouTube on Friday 15th May 2020.

The Council’s adopted plan remains the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan and Unitary Development Plan. The Inspector’s Letter regarding the Councils emerging Development and Allocations plan is online. The Plan will be adopted once it goes before Full Council in due course.

Northumberland Applications are being received and validated as normal. There will be delays to start times, as sites notices may not be posted immediatelyElectronic submissions requested as limited capacity for handling paper submissions at County Hall. The Council are liaising directly with the Planning Team at MHCLG in order to secure further provisions. This includes:

• The ability to extend implementation periods for planning permissions close to their expiry date:

• More flexibility over requirements for site notices etc.

Delegated decisions are being made as normal. The Council has been running trial virtual planning committees (Skype etc) and are working with other NE LPAs to establish a standard protocol.

The Council is currently liaising with PINS in preparing additional information that has been requested through the Phase 1 examination hearing sessions. Once completed, this will be consulted on and Phase 2 hearing sessions will be undertaken. The date and form of the consultation and Phase 2 hearing sessions is yet to be determined.





North Tyneside The Council is seeking to maintain planning service delivery with staff now working from home.NTC are now:

• Posting site notices• Observational site visits for planning &

enforcement cases (no interaction & viewed from public vantage points)

• 3 month CIL payment extension on payments due during lockdown

The Council has opted to suspend planning committees indefinitely and is exploring digital options as per the emerging legislation. Initial trials however suggest this will not be practical for the Council in the short term and so they may rely on delegated decision making from senior figures. In this instance, planning applications will be determined by Head of Environment, Housing & Leisure Phil Scott in consultation with Planning Chair Frank Lott.The Council’s first Virtual Planning Committee is scheduled for June 2020.

The Council currently does not expect any changes to the Local Plan and other planning policy documents and so these are unaffected.

Redcar and Cleveland Officers are working from home. Neighbour notification publicity is being undertaken on applications that do not require the posting of site notices. Where site notices are required publicity is being delayed to be undertaken when the Authority are able to progress with site notices. In light of the latest emerging guidance on site notices the Council are reviewing and anticipate that they will commence posting of notices shortly.

All forthcoming committee meetings have been cancelled. The council are still reviewing approach to committee including possible virtual committees, or COVID regulation compliant committees in person.

The Council’s Local Plan was adopted in May 2018 and is therefore unaffected by the current situation.

South Tyneside Planning staff are currently working from home.Critical site inspections will be carried out, while observing government advice around social distancing.

The Council is holding its first virtual planning committee on 26th May 2020.

The Council is continuing to work as best as it can at the moment in terms of the preparation of their Local Plan but is anticipating that there could be delays in bringing it forward for consultation.

Stockton All staff are working from home where they can and some staff will be redeployed to help cover essential services as and when required.Despite this, the Council is still determining and processing applications where they can. However, there are some functions that cannot be completed undertaken at present such as site visits and displaying site notices resulting in delays in processing some applications.

At present planning committees have been deferred and the Council is looking into the provision of holding planning committees remotely as well as introducing additional delegated powers.

The Council has a recently adopted Local Plan and so this is unaffected.





Sunderland Planning staff are currently working from home and have full access to all systems and are trying to operate a full planning service at the present time. This will be reviewed daily to allow the Council to respond to the latest Government advice.

Council Chief Executive has been granted powers to make decisions which normally require Full Council or Committee scrutiny. In the case of non-urgent decisions these powers may be delegated to specific council officers (most likely Service Directors with input from the relevant Committee Chair if practical). The Council is also expected to adopt a new constitution which would enable reorganisation to better equip the authority to manage the health emergency and keep Council functions operating. These include reducing down the current planning committee structure to just two committees.

The Council has only recently adopted its Core Strategy and Development Plan. Allocations and Designations Plan – The Council are hoping to consult, subject to cabinet approval, in September/October. Evidence is currently being prepared. Following this the Plan will be reviewed and publication will be consulted on in early 2021.SPD review - The cabinet report which adopted the CSDP also deleted most of the SPDs. Hopefully Cabinet in June will adopt the Planning Obligations SPD and South Sunderland Growth Area SPD. Riverside Sunderland Draft SPD, subject to cabinet approval, will be consulted on in June HMO SPD and Development Management SPD will be consulted on alongside the Allocations and Designation PlanBiodiversity and net gains SPD is being worked up but due Covid 19 we have experienced some delays. Timetable currently being reviewed. Sunderland Council will be updating the LDS and publish once there is more clarity around Covid 19. The Council will also be looking at reviewing its SCI in light of COVID-19.




Region North WestContact Neil Culkin (Liverpool) Seb Tibenham and Kate Lowe (Manchester)


Barrow-in-Furness To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Blackburn with Darwen DM team are working from home. Applications are still being validated and registered. Have a rota system with the support team to go into the office and print consultation letters/site notices. Site visits are kept to a minimum where possible. They are expecting new applications to tailor off in the next couple of weeks so they are expecting to redeploy members of the planning service to other critical services within the Council. They will be expecting to request agreed extensions of time on applications which cannot be determined for one reason or another.

Committee meetings postponed until further notice. The scheme of delegation is being reviewed to see whether it would be appropriate to amend the committee procedure to deal with non-controversial applications under emergency delegated officer powers in consultation with the Chair of the committee. They are also digesting the guidance released last week with regards to virtual meetings and are hoping to have something in place and agreed in the next few weeks.

No specific impact on the Local Plan consultation timetable. Still progressing with multiple workstreams on the Local Plan to minimise impacts. Some evidence (e.g. highways evidence) has been halted and therefore there is a strong chance that this will impact on the timetable in the coming months.

Blackpool Planning officers working from home. No legal mechanism in place as of yet for ‘virtual committees’ to be held. It is anticipated that the Council will look for a way to enable committee meeting to continue. The majority of decisions are made using delegated powers in any event and so only a small proportion of applications would be affected.

Unaffected at present.

Bolton Planners working from home and able to host virtual meetings.

Meetings cancelled until further notice. No plans as of yet to hold any virtual meetings or for decisions to be decided via delegated powers.

No current consultations and awaiting the GMSF.

Burnley Planning Officers working from home. Planning applications will be registered and validated as per usual however applicants may be asked for an extension of time.

LPA are looking to hold a virtual committee. Details are currently being discussed but no dates or format agreed at this stage.

To be confirmed.

Bury Planning officers working from home but best to contact them via email.

Will still be producing and publishing the full committee agenda for the planning committee meeting on the 21st April but how the meeting will be carried out has not yet been deter-mined.

To be confirmed.



Region North West continued


Carlisle To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Cheshire East Working from home. Not clear if staff will be deployed onto other services yet. Staff trying to use opportunity to work through backlog of applications.

The council was looking at options last week and was hoping to use March 2020 committee as a dummy run but this was cancelled outright. Officers not aware what is happening yet.

Site allocations Reg 19 has taken place. Council were still in process of reviewing all comments.

Cheshire West and Chester Head of Planning has passed away from Covid-19. All staff working from home.

To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Chorley To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Copeland Planning staff working from home. Planning applications will be registered and validated to the best of their abilities. Extensions of time are expected and all agents have been advised of this.

Committee meetings postponed for the foreseeable future until they decide how to deal with them. This depends on how long the lockdown lasts. They are issuing decisions under delegated powers and got enhanced delegated powers last year as part of a review of the Council constitution.

Currently working to their published LDS but are expecting there will be some delay (just not sure what delay at this time). They are unlikely to go out to consultation until the situation significantly improves.

Cumbria All officers are working from home and in regular contact with applicants (skype/conference calling). Any scheduled meetings will be carried out remotely although some workflows have changed due to the need to divert council resources to the COVID-19 response. Accepting new applications and validating them although not carrying out any site visits.

April 2020 planning committee is cancelled and the June 2020 meeting is currently under review. There may be more direction from the government in terms of secondary legislation to allow remote committee meetings and they are also considering officer delegated decisions if appropriate but this is not confirmed as of yet.

To be confirmed.

Eden Planning officers working from home. No face to face meetings will be held for the foreseeable future. All planning applications to be submitted electronically.

At present, planning committee meetings are still going ahead however each committee will be individually assessed as to whether it actually goes ahead or not.

To be confirmed.

Fylde Council has approved emergency decisions to be made under powers that have been delegated to the relevant senior officer. Decisions will be informed through consultation with the committee.

All information relevant to a planning application will be circulated to the committee to inform their views. Once the views are received, the senior officer will make a decision on how the decision will be made.

No delay.




Greater Manchester CA N/A no powers to call in applications during normal operations

Planning and Housing Commission meetings have been delayed cancelled

No confirmation of timeline for GMSF

Halton Officers working from home. April 2020 Committee is postponed. Local Plan has been submitted, awaiting Inspector appointment. PINS guidance delaying Examinations is relevant.

Hyndburn To be confirmed. March and April 2020 Committees cancelled. To be confirmed.

Knowsley To be confirmed. April 2020 Planning Committee is cancelled. To be confirmed.

Lancashire To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Lancaster Officers working from home. Applications are being registered and validated however unable to undertake neighbourhood consultations. They will be carried out when the teams are back in the office.

It is expected that remote committee meeting will be held once the regulations arising from the Coronavirus bill are finalised however there is no clarity on this at present.

Expecting to receive the Inspectors report imminently. They have not had any contact from PINS or the Inspector that the current situation has delayed the preparation of his report. The Council should receive the draft Inspectors Report imminently and they anticipate to publish this in mid-April 2020. With that in mind, they are anticipating the adoption of the Plan in May 2020 and investigating a virtual Council meeting to achieve this. Policy officers are being deployed to other critical Council services and therefore this could cause delays.

Liverpool To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Liverpool City Region CA Staff working from home not accepting meeting requests (even remote).

All postponed – waiting to agree way forward. Originally planned next consultation in December 2020. Unclear whether this will be met.






Manchester The power to decide on all Manchester planning applications has now been delegated to council chief executive Joanne Roney, alongside chair of the planning committee Cllr Basil Curley and deputy chair Cllr Nasrin Ali.

Council committee report from 25th March 2020 sets out Business Continuity Measures, including the ability for the chief executive to determine any planning application, listed building consent and TPO that would have been decided at a planning committee meeting. Provisions in place until November 2020 but may be rescinded or extended.

Issues and Options consultation for new Local Plan extended from Friday 3rd April to Friday 1st May 2020.

Oldham Planning Officers working from home and using Microsoft teams to hold virtual meetings.

No mention at present of any revised procedures. To be confirmed.

Pendle Staff working from home but the service is continuing. Site visits will be carried out as long as this doesn’t involve entering buildings.

All meetings are cancelled and there is no clarity at this time how the Council will proceed with this.

To be confirmed.

Preston Staff working from home. Applications are being registered and validated. If required, applicants are being asked for an extension of time.

Committee on the 2nd April 2020 has been cancelled. 30th April 2020 and 4th June 2020 are still currently in the calendar. Council are considering virtual Council meetings and delegated powers but there is no clarity yet.

As of yet, no changes to the timeframes of the Central Lancashire Local Plan.

Ribble Valley To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Rochdale Business as usual from home, with strict procedure in place for site visits. No face to face meeting and all discussions will now take place over the phone or via email.

Committee is still being considered at the moment. The April 2020 committee has been cancelled, not least because there is no agenda items for the month. This will give them time to decide their approach going forward.

To be confirmed.

Rossendale Staff working from home and determining applications as usual.

Council having a meeting on the 31st March 2020 to discuss how they are going to deal with applications. Continuing with applications were the statutory 21 day consultation period has expired. Next scheduled planning committees are 20th May and 18th June 2020.

To be confirmed.

Salford Staff working from home. Email the Case Officer to speak to them as they have no work mobiles and they can call back

The Council are in discussions at the moment. April 2020 is cancelled but looking to try and organise something for May 2020.

Public Consultation closed in March 2020 and therefore they are able to review the responses by working from home.




Sefton Most staff are working remotely and is operating as close to normality as possible.

Applications are being validated, consulted on, reports are being written and decisions are being issued under delegated powers.

To be confirmed.

South Lakeland Planning officers working remotely with a skeleton of staff in the offices on a rota basis. Continuing to validate, process and determine applications and extensions of time will be sought were necessary.

Council have a clause in the delegation scheme that allows the decision making process to be delegated. Decisions which would have gone to committee will be determined by the Planning Directors and the Committee Chair. Agendas for committee meetings will be advertised in the normal way with the ability to make reps.

To be confirmed.

South Ribble Planners working from home. Planning applications still being determined but may take longer than usual, and this would be judged on a case by case basis. Extensions of times may be required.

The next committee meeting has been cancelled and how to proceed is being discussed with senior management for future meetings.

To be confirmed.

St Helens To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Stockport To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Tameside Officers working from home but it is advised to contact by email. Services will be slower than usual.

No meetings are scheduled at present and meetings cannot be viewed online.

Awaiting GMSF

Trafford Planning officers working from home. Access to video conferencing and can facilitate online meetings. Pre-app re-mains available. Limitations to site vis-its.

Applications which would have gone to planning committee have now been delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson of the Planning and Development Management Committee. These arrangements will remain in place until 31st May. First set of applications which will be considered int this manner will be determined Friday 17th April.

Issues and Options Consultation ran in September 2018. Awaiting GMSF.

Warrington All staff working from home. To be confirmed. Latest position is that Local Plan will still be submitted in Summer 2020 but Council trying to determine how they get Council sign off for this.





West Lancashire Planning staff working from home. Where attendance in the office is required (check post, print letters), this is being managed on a rota basis. Planning applications are continuing to be registered and validated. Extensions of time have been requested where required.

The Council are looking to hold a virtual planning meeting towards the end of the month.

It may well affect the LP timescales but the Council don’t know of the details yet. Some of the policy team have been redeployed to frontline tasks and others may be redeployed at some point. The team are working towards preparing ‘options’ for an autumn consultation but this may slip.

Wigan Officers working from home. Temporary delegations have been put in place to give authority to the Leader to make executive decisions that may not be reasonably delayed until the next Cabinet meeting. No clarity on planning committee procedure yet.

To be confirmed.

Wirral To be confirmed. Alan Evans provided with Exec Powers to determine applications. Believe this needs Chairman signoff too.

To be confirmed.

Wyre Most staff working from home. Extensions are not being asked automatically at present but this may happen as staff may be redeployed to other more critical services.

Committee meetings have not been postponed. At present, it is proposed that the committee will meet to consider applications and the committee has been reduced to 5. There will be no public speaking. As further legislation is published, alternative arrangements may be introduced. About 96% of all applications are already delegated.

At present, the timetable for the Partial Review does not need to be significantly extended. Some delay to the approval of masterplans for larger allocated development sites. The Planning Policy Working Group have suspended meetings and looking at alternative ways to progress these.





Adur & Worthing Home based working with reduced staff rate.Site visits will be avoided. New applications are being validated and decisions are being issued.Letters of public representation will not be able to be processed for the time being

Adur Committee was held virtually on 11th May 2020 via YouTube livestream Worthing committee to be held on 27th May 2020 at 6.30pm

Council are working to publish the reg 19 of the Draft Worthing Local Plan however there may be delays.Adur policy to be confirmed.

Arun Majority of staff are working from home. New applications are being validated and decisions are being issued.

Development Control Committee to be held on 26th and 27th May 2020 at 2.30pm

Currently preparing a non-strategic sites DPD. Due to current situation the earliest review could be June 2020.

Aylesbury Vale(now forms part of ‘Buckinghamshire Council’)

Planning officers are working from home.Planning applications are being validated- it is recommended that these are not submitted via post.A new Local Validation List has been created for the Buckinghamshire Council, this will affect all planning applications received by the new authority on and after 1 April 2020.These changes include clearer descriptions of the documents we require for validation, updated guidance, and best practice examples. Site visits- suspended until further notice. Additional information might be submitted by the applicants and agents (photos or videos, detailed Site photograph Guidance Note Available on Council’s Website).Site notices- arrangements are reviewed.Parish and Town Council consultations- Extension of the statutory period to 28 days.Any comments from consultees should be submitted online and not by post.Planning Decisions- potential Extensions of time likely when determining applications.

Strategic Development Management Committees scheduled for April 2020 are cancelled and no planning committees are scheduled for May 2020.

The Council have been considering its responses to the main representations made on the VALP main modifications. Intended to send the representations and the Council’s responses to the issues raised in them to the Inspector in mid-April 2020. However, the Council has prioritised its response to the current Covid-19 crisis and as a result some Council officers involved in preparing the responses to the representations have now been seconded to Covid-19 work. It is therefore not possible to give a definitive answer at this stage as to when the information will be sent to the Inspector. Aim to achieve this as soon as possible and more information will be put on the website when it is available.

Region South EastContact Andy Meader, Mykena Mortimer-Davis and Rachel Hillier (Bracknell) Sarah Hamilton-Foyn and Adam Jones (Cirencester)




Basingstoke and Deane No change in application validation or decisions. Development Control Committee to be held on 20th and 27th May 2020 at 2pm.

Issues and options consultation has been pushed back until the autumn.

Bracknell Forest Home based working for officers.Backlog with validations: 03/04 the Council were validating applications from the 17th March 2020.

Planning Committee to be held on 20th and 21st May 2020 at 7.30pm and 6.30pm via Microsoft teams.Commentary from one of our Directors: I attended BFC first virtual planning committee on the 23/04 and which was all via video call. The meeting was well formatted with officers presenting remotely and councillors registering during the event that they had questions to ask before they were allowed to ask them. Votes were expressed verbally in turn through each councillor and a committee administrator counted the votes and expressed the verdict. The only disturbance was the clap for NHS/Carers which prevented some from hearing during the committee.The committee approved our scheme of 3 luxury homes in the Greenbelt at Nuptown Piggeries.

Currently working to the timetable. It is unlikely that the Draft Submission Local Plan will be published for consultation until after 31st August 2020.

Canterbury Home based working. Applications are still being validated.Planning decisions are still being issued.

Provisional Planning Committee to be held on 26 May 2020 at 6:30pm

Progressing emerging policy. (Local Plan Review).

Region South East continued




Cherwell District Council Trying to operate as closely as possible to business- as-usual. Continuing to register and validate applications as they come in. Under regular review and updates will be issued. Until advised, do not post payments or drawings.Officers have changed their working practices to ensure that site appraisals and engagement can be undertaken safely for staff and local communities. Most working from home. Photographs may be requested electronically so that visits can be minimised. Face to face meetings will not go ahead but will try to be held via video or telephone where possible.Officers working remotely and electronically. This may cause some delays with planning service.Further advice to be announced.

Officers are working to address the technological and logistical issues of running virtual meetings.A remote planning committee is scheduled for Thursday 21st May 2020 (4pm). Agenda has been published online. Planning Committee will be held via Microsoft Teams. A link to view the webcast is available online. The deadline to register to speak at Planning Committee is noon on the day before a meeting.

To be confirmed.

Chichester Planning decisions are still being issued. Planning Committee was held on 13th May 2020 at 9:30am via Zoom

Progressing local plan review.





Chiltern (now forms part of ‘Buckinghamshire Council’)

Planning officers are working from home.Planning enforcement issues are conducted via email and website in a normal way.Planning applications are being validated- it is recommended that these are not submitted via post. Site visits- suspended until further notice. Additional information might be submitted by the applicants and agents (photos or videos, detailed Site photograph Guidance Note Available on Council’s Website).Site notices- will be reviewed on the case by case basis, request being made to the public not to approach an officer posting site notice and maintain 2m distance.Parish and Town Council consultations- Extension of the statutory period to 28 days. Any comments from consultees should be submitted online and not by post.Planning Decisions- potential Extensions of time likely when determining applications.

27th April 2020 meeting was held virtually on Microsoft Teams. All applications recommended for approval.No May 2020 meetings scheduled.

The Stage 1 Hearing Sessions due to commence on Tuesday 17th March 2020 have been postponed due to Covid-19. Seeking comments from those participants scheduled to attend Matter 1, Issue 1 - Duty to Cooperate. All statements must be received by the Programme Officer no later than 5pm on Monday 23 March. Statements will be published on the examination website. Participants scheduled to attend Matter 1, Issue 1 – Duty to Cooperate will then have a further week until 5pm on Monday 30 March 2020 to provide any final comments.Next steps regarding examination will be published online.

Crawley To be confirmed. Meeting on the 27th April 2020 was held virtually via Microsoft Teams.


Dartford Home based working. Applications are still being validated and decisions are being issued. Site visits are taking place as long as government guidance is adhered to.

Provisional Development control board to be held on 21st May 2020 at 7pm.

Progressing emerging policy. (Preferred options public consultation responses).

Dover Home based working. Possibility that staff will be called in to help with vulnerable residents. Possible delay to validation of new applications and decisions being issued. Agents will be contacted if extensions are required.

Planning Committee to be held on 21st May 2020 at 6:00pm via Microsoft Teams live event.

HELAA allocations to be published 03/04/20. Not confirmed whether they will go to Reg 18 stage by the summer.





Eastbourne Home based working. No site visits taking place. New applications being validated but consultation is delayed. Decisions being issued if consultation period is over.

Planning Committee to be held on 26th May 2020 at 6:00pm.

Local Plan mid consultation.

Eastleigh Home based working. Applications are still being validated but expect delays for paper submissions. Planning decisions still being issued.

No meetings scheduled. Inspectors Post Hearing advice is available on the examination documents page

East Hampshire Home based working (Office cover is limited). Applications are still being validated but expect delays. Site visits continue to be conducted but applicants are asked to leave a side gate open where possible for access. Site notices will be emailed to the applicant.

Planning Committee to be held on 21st May 2020 at 6:00pm.

To be confirmed.

Elmbridge Home based working. Electronic applications are still being validated.Decisions are still being issued. Site visits are being reintroduced where it is safe.

East Area Planning Sub-Committee to be held on 26th May 2020 at 5:00pm.North Area Planning Sub-Committee to be held on 27th May 2020 at 5:00pm.South Area Planning Sub-Committee to be held on 28th May 2020 at 5:00pm.Meetings are held via Zoom.


Epson and Ewell Mixture of home working and office.Applications continue to be validated and decisions are being issued.

13th May 2020 meeting was held virtually via Gotowebinar.Planning Committee to be held on 21st May 2020 at 7:00pm via Gotowebinar.

Reg 18 public consultation has been cancelled.

Fareham Home based working. Planning Committee on the 6th May 2020 was postponed due to technical issues. New date will be confirmed at the earliest convenience. Planning Committee to be held on 20th May 2020 at 2.30pm.

Council are reviewing whether it is pos-sible to achieve the current timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan. The next stage was set to be a full pub-lic consultation in Spring/ Summer 2020.





Folkestone and Hyth Home based working. Applications are still being validated and decisions issued. No site visits to take place.

Planning and Licensing Committee to be held on 26th May at 7:00pm.


Gravesham Mainly home based working but officers are on a rota for office work.Applications are still being validated and planning decisions are being issued. Site visits are not being undertaken unless urgently required.

May 2020 meetings cancelled. Progressing emerging policy.

Guildford Home based where possible.Applications are still being validated and planning decisions are being issued.No site visits taking place.

Planning Committee to be held on 20th May 2020 at 7:00pm.

No current consultation appears to be taking place

Hart To be confirmed. 30th April 2020 was held virtually. The Hart Local Plan (Strategy & sites) 2032 and policies map was adopted. Planning Committee to be held on 27th May 2020.

Plan was adopted on the 30th April 2020.

Hastings Home based.Applications are still being validated. Delays with determining planning decisions.No site visits being undertaken.

May 2020 meetings cancelled. To be confirmed.

Havant To be confirmed. May 2020 meetings cancelled. To be confirmed.





Horsham Home based working.Applications are still being validated and planning decisions are being issued. There will be a delay for any paper submissions.

Planning and Development Policy Development Advisory Group to be held on 18th May 2020 at 10:00am.Planning Committee (South) to be held at 19th May 2020 at 2.30pm.Horsham Town Policy Development Advisory Group to be held on 19th May 2020 at 5.30pm.

Consultation on the Reg 18 Draft Local Plan has closed.

Lewes Home based working. Officers are classified as key workers. No site visits taking place. New applications being validated but consultation is delayed. Decisions being issued if consultation period is over.

Planning Applications Committee to be held on 20th May 2020 at 5:00pm.


Maidstone Applicants are still being validated.Site visits will only take place where officers have no contact and without entering buildings.

Planning Committee to be held at 21st and 28th May 2020 at 6:00pm.Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee to be held on 26th May at 6.45pm.

Slight delay due to people being unwell.

Mid Sussex Mixture of home and office-based working. No pre-app site visits taking place. Other site visits are taking place.

All May meetings cancelled. To be confirmed.

Mole Valley Home based working. Development Management meeting on 29 was live streamed via YouTube.

No revised timescales.

New Forest Home based working.Applications are still being validated and decisions issued.No site visits taking place if they require going into properties that are inhabited.

Planning Committee to be held on 20th and 27th May 2020 via YouTube livestream at 10:00am.

Received the Inspectors Report of the Examination on 25th March 2020. The Council will formally consider the adopted of the Local Plan at the Cabinet and Council meetings in May 2020.





Oxford City Council Currently able to register applications remotely, however, there may be some delays in uploading all the supporting information. Can only accept electronic applications.Unable to accept payment for any planning applications or services via cash or cheque at the current time. Request either online payment, payment over the phone, of via BACS transfer.Have a statutory obligation to notify neighbours of current planning applications and the council are still maintaining that part of the process. Process has changed slightly, and the council have a coordinated approach to doing this, rather than have all officers out at the same time.Officers are not making site visits to properties. However, officers are currently reviewing what information they have available to them to make a decision, whether this be by doing site visits from the public realm, reviewing planning histories, and contacting applicants to undertake virtual site visits by requesting photographs with guidance from the officers.Not currently holding planning meetings, using the following methods instead - conference calling; email; mobiles; and virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams.

No Committee meetings to be held during March and April 2020. Under review.East Area Planning Committee scheduled 18th May 2020 (3pm) – remote meeting via Zoom. West Area Planning Committee scheduled 19th May 2020 (3pm) – remote meeting via Zoom.The link to the meeting will be available on the meeting agenda page shortly before the meeting starts. You must register to speak before noon on the working day before the meeting. Members of the public registering to speak are recommended to submit their contribution in writing to [email protected] not less than 24 hours before the meeting is due to start. Those registering to speak will be provided with joining instructions and guidance on public participation in remote meetings by the Committee and Member Services Team.

Local Plan 2016- 2036: Timetable for Public Consultation (modifications) stage running through Spring/ Summer 2020 may be affected. Under review. Recommended to email queries.South Oxfordshire District Council intend to progress the new Local to examination. Intention is to have new Local Plan adopted by the end of the year.Unaffected by Coronavirus.

Reading Home based working (office closed) No site visits. Delays with pre-app scoping as no meetings allowed. No site notices going up.

Planning applications meeting held via microsoft teams on 29th April 2020. Public can view from YouTube.

No current consultation appears to be taking place.

Reigate and Banstead Home based working. Employees considered as key workers. No site visits being undertaken (relying on photographic evidence). No change to validation and decisions.

Planning committee to be held on 20th May 2020 via Webex and YouTube livestream at 7.30pm.







Rother Home based working.Applications are still being validated and decisions issued.

Planning Committee to be held on 28th May 2020 at 9.30am


Runnymede Some staff are home based. A lot of employees have been deployed to help vulnerable residents so it can be assumed that service will be slower than normal.

13th May 2020 was held virtually via MS teams with audio access to the public via registered dial in only at 6.30pm.

Progressing with emerging policy. View to adopt in July 2020.

Rushmoor Home based working. Site visits to be undertaken as long as social distancing is not breached. Where this is not possible, applications will be treated as withdrawn until circumstances change. After this, applications will be permitted to re-submit without payment of a fee.

Development Management Committee to be held on 27th May 2020 at 7:00pm.


Sevenoaks Most officers are working from home.Applicants are being validated and decisions are being issued.

Development Control committee to be held on 21st May 2020 via YouTube at 3:00pm.

Inspector issued the final report in relation to the examination of the Local Plan (6th March 2020).

Slough Home based working (offices closed).Delays to determine applications.No site visits therefore applicants may be asked to provide more images or site plans.

Planning Committee to be held on 27th May at 6.30pm.

To be confirmed.





South Bucks (Now forms part of ‘Buckinghamshire Council’)

Planning officers are working from home. Planning enforcement issues are conducted via email and website in a normal way. Planning applications are being validated- it is recommended that these are not submitted via post. Site visits- suspended until further notice. Additional information might be submitted by the applicants and agents.Site notices- arrangements are reviewed.Parish and Town Council consultations- Extension of the statutory period to 28 days. Planning Decisions- potential Extensions of time likely when determining applications.

April and May 2020 planning meetings are cancelled. Exploring arrangements for future meetings via video conferencing.

Local Plan Examination: Following the postponement of the Stage 1 Hearings due to Covid-19, the Inspectors have written to the Council to inform them of their initial findings in relation to the Duty to Co-operate. The Inspectors’ letter, dated 7th May 2020, can be found on the Councils website. The Council will now consider their position before responding in due course.The Council will need time to consider the Inspectors findings and the usual decision-making processes are likely to have been affected by restrictions arising from the Coronavirus (‘COVID-19’). For this reason, a deadline for responding has not been set, although an indication of when a reply can be expected would assist for the Inspectors and participants. This is yet to be confirmed.

South Oxfordshire District Council Staffing numbers in planning are at a level where a service can be provided, but this will need to be kept under review. Most of our staff are now remote working. Any paper submissions cannot be prioritised or actioned quickly in the current circumstances.Site visits will be conducted on a risk-assessed basis. No physical face to face meetings at present but will engage via e-mail, telephone or video conferencing.

Next scheduled Planning Committee is to be held on 28th May 2020 (4:30pm). This meeting will be a virtual meeting viewable by a weblink. Further details will be published online once they are available.

Local Plan Part 1 and 2 recently adopted. The new Local Plan is still being progressed under normal timeframe. ‘Call for Sites’ unaffected and submissions still being encouraged.

Southampton City Council Applications are still being validated.Applications are still being issued.

No May 2020 meeting scheduled. To be confirmed.

Spelthorne Home based working. No change to validation or decision of applications. No site visits undertaken. No pre-app meetings taking place.

Planning Committee to be held on 27th May 2020 via Skype for Business at 6.45pm.

To be confirmed.

Surrey Heath Home based working (offices closed). Planning Applications committee meeting to be held on 28th May 2020 via YouTube.






Swale Home based working. New applications continue to be validated and planning decisions will continue to be issued. Site visits are taking place as long as officers adhere to government rules.

Planning Committee to be held on the 28th May 2020 at 7:00pm via Skype.


Tandridge Home based working.Applications are still being validated but applicants are requested to submit site photos which show the site in context. No site visits undertaken.

Planning Committee to be held on 28th May 2020 at 7.30pm.

To be confirmed.

Test Valley Home based working. Applications are still being validated and planning decisions will continue to be issued. Site visits are being undertaken but with a heavy degree of managerial decision.

Northern Area planning committee meeting cancelled on 5th May 2020.Southern Area Planning Committee meeting was held 12th May 2020 at 5.30pm via http://www.audiominutes.com/p/player/player.html?userid=tvbc

A decision will be made on the future stage of the next Local Plan Consultation in the near future.

Tonbridge and Maling Home based working. Site visits to take place on a case by case basis. New applications continue to be validated and planning decisions are being issued.

Area 1 Planning Committee to be held on 21st May 2020 at 7.30pm.Area 2 Planning Committee to be held on 27th May 2020 at 7.30pm.

Hearings to take place in May and June 2020 for examination have been postponed.

Tunbridge Wells Home based working. New applications continue to be validated and planning decisions will continue to be issued.

Planning Committee was held on the 13th May 2020 via https://tunbridgewells.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486806


Vale of White Horse District Council Staffing numbers in planning are at a level where a service can be provided, but this will need tobe kept under review. Most of our staff are now remote workingSite visits will be conducted on a risk-assessed basis. No physical face to face meetings at present but will engage via e-mail, telephone or video conferencing.Do not send paper copies of applications. Do not make payments (cheques/cash) through the postal system.

The next Planning Committee is scheduled to be held on 26th May 2020 (10:30am). The agenda will be displayed in the week before the meeting and the meeting will be a virtual meeting viewable by a weblink.

Strategic planning not anticipating any major disruption to policy document work. Under constant review.


http://www.audiominutes.com/p/player/player.html?userid=tvbc

http://www.audiominutes.com/p/player/player.html?userid=tvbc

https://tunbridgewells.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486806

https://tunbridgewells.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486806




Waverley Home based working. Applications are being validated and decisions are being issued. Site visits have been suspended.

All meetings are suspended until 30th June 2020. Work on the Local Plan Part 2 have been deferred.

Wealden Home based working. Not all officers are considered key workers. Applications are being validated but there is a delay. No site visits to take place.

Planning Committee North meetings to be held on the 14th and 28th May 2020 at 10.30am via Microsoft Teams.Planning Committee South meeting to be held on 21st May 2020 at 10.30am via Microsoft teams.

Council are working on a timetable for a new Local Plan.

West Berkshire Home based working.Applications are being validated within 3 days (paper applications will take longer)Planning decisions are still being issued. Site visits will only take place where they can be undertaken in conformity with Government guidelines.

Eastern Area Planning Committee on 13 May available to view at www.westberks.gov.uk/easternareaplanninglive. District Planning Committee meetings to be held on 14th and 27th May 2020.Western Area planning committee meeting on 20th May 2020.

Reviewing the LDS (should be live in 2 weeks).

West Oxfordshire District Council Statutory function will be able to continue with adjustments to working practices. Pre-application discussions will be carried out by telephone or by other means of communication.Site Notices will wherever possible be posted out for applicants to display.If a site visit is required, the council will make contact to ensure the applicant is happy for this to go ahead. Will not be entering properties and will require social distancing to be in place. Will not be attending site visits to vulnerable premises such as care homes or where applicants have advised that they are not happy for the site visit to take place. In circumstances where the lack of a site visit is preventing a proper assessment, an extension of time will be sought to determine the application. If no such extension is agreed, such applications can be refused.

From 13 May 2020, unless otherwise stated, meetings will take place remotely, with members of the public being able to “attend” via Facebook Live. (You do not need a Facebook account for this). Agendas and reports are published to the website five clear working days before the meeting in question.Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee Meeting scheduled to be held on 26th May 2020.Uplands Area Planning Sub-Committee Meeting scheduled to be held on 1st June 2020.

Strategic planning not anticipating any major disruption to policy document work. Under constant review.


http://www.westberks.gov.uk/easternareaplanninglive

http://www.westberks.gov.uk/easternareaplanninglive




Winchester Home based working. Next meeting to be held on 9th July 2020. Progressing emerging policy.

Windsor and Maidenhead Home based working. Still validating and determining applications. Decisions delegated to officers where appropriate.Site visits are only carried out on a risk assessed basis.

Provisional – Maidenhead Area Development Management Panel meeting on 20th May 2020 7.30pm.

Examination process has resumed following a length pause period. Inspector has provided a position statement which is available online.

Woking Home based working. Pre-application meetings are cancelled but written advice will be provided.

Planning Committee took place on 12th May 2020 at 7:00pm via https://moderngov.woking.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=1067

To be confirmed.

Wokingham Home based workingNew applications validated. Site visits being undertaken under strict rules. Decisions are still being issued. Due to workloads, applicants are encouraged to delay submissions.

Planning Committee took place on 13th May 2020 at 7:00pm and was live streamed via YouTube. Extraordinary Planning Committee to take place on 21st May 2020 at 7:00pm.

Council are reviewing all representations received.

Wycombe (now forms part of ‘Buckinghamshire Council’)

Planning officers are working from home. Planning enforcement issues are conducted via email and website in a normal way. Planning applications are being validated- it is recommended that these are not submitted via post. Site visits- suspended until further notice. Additional information might be submitted by the applicants and agents (photos or videos, detailed Site photograph Guidance Note Available on Council’s Website).Site notices- arrangements are reviewed. Parish and Town Council consultations- Extension of the statutory period to 28 days. Planning Decisions- potential Extensions of time likely when determining applications.

The Wycombe Area Planning Committee scheduled for 6th May 2020 has been cancelled. Arrangements for the holding of future meetings are being explored.

Wycombe District Local Plan adopted August 2019. No significant disruption to future Local Plan work anticipated at this time.


https://moderngov.woking.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=1067

https://moderngov.woking.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=1067



Region South WestContact Sarah Hamilton-Foyn and Adam Jones (Cirencester) Jonathan Coombs (Bristol)


Bath & North East Somerset Council Applicants urged to consider delaying submission until further notice. There may be delays in determining applications that have already been registered and officers will be in contact with applicants to discuss.Due to staff availability there are delays putting up site notices, doing site visits and posting neighbour notification cards. Unable to accept hard copy applications or hard copy comments at this time.

The Government has now given Councils new powers to hold public meetings ‘virtually’ using video or telephone-conferencing technology. We are keen to do this, whilst ensuring meetings are efficient and properly conducted, so we’re currently testing options to determine how residents can engage with our meetings. The first virtual Planning Committee was held on Wednesday 6th May 2020 at 2:00pm with public access via Youtube with link to the video stream available from Councils website. The next Planning Committee is scheduled for Wednesday 3rd June 2020 at 2:00pm but it has not been confirmed at this stage whether the meeting will be conducted virtually.We have cancelled some Scrutiny and Committee meetings until further notice as we want to ensure you stay safe and remain inside to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, we are investigating how some of this can be delivered virtually.

The Council was preparing a new Local Plan (2016-2036) within the context of and to deliver the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP). However, following the withdrawal of the JSP preparation of the new Local Plan (2016- 2036) has been paused.The interim Local Development Scheme came into effect on 6th April 2020. Local Plan Partial Update (2011-2029) has a revised schedule summarised for 2020 as follows:

• Commencement April 2020• Draft Plan consultation (Reg 18) Nov – Dec

2020Due to the unprecedented situation caused by Covid-19, we are not able to follow our normal processes for public consultations. To protect the health of our communities, there will be no public events or exhibitions. There will be opportunities to contribute ideas and comment on the emerging content of the Local Plan partial update, when we consult on options and policy approaches later in the year.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Civic Centre in Poole, Civic Offices in Christchurch and the Town Hall in Bournemouth now closed.

Following the government’s guidance to limit the spread of Coronavirus, along with the Coucil’s commitment to help protect their residents, councillors and staff have decided to cancel all scheduled meetings up to and including 9th April 2020.30th April 2020 planning committee still scheduled. Further updates to be confirmed.

To be confirmed.




Bristol City Council Service remains operational. No meetings or site visits being held. Officers only reached via e-mail.

Virtual planning committee for Development Control Committee B held on 29th April 2020, where two planning applications were determined. One application related to the charge of use of 3 flats to a 17 x bed extension to a nursing home with 125 comments having been recived, 55 in support and 62 objections. The second application related to a Full Planning Application and Listed Building Consent for the conversion and extension of the Former Coroners Court and erection of 4 storey building to provide 46 no residential units; business space for Class A2/B1 uses, associated cycle storage and landscaping by Pegasus Group for the Full Bottle Works. There was substantial public interest in this development locally (and nationally in some sectors) with a 8000 + petition and a large number of statement of objections.The committee meeting was undertaken by Zoom with public access via YouTube. Written submissions were required by 12pm the day prior to committee.

To be confirmed.

Region South West continued




Cheltenham Borough Council Planning Service still operational. Officers working from home and not conducting site visits where this can be avoided (photographs or video calls used where possible).Site notices will be sent to applicants to put up (with instructions) and will not be put up by officers.Neighbour letters and media advertising will happen as normal.All regulatory planning decisions will be delegated to officers. All planning committee members will be consulted on applications that would otherwise be presented to the planning committee prior to decisions being made.Our pre-application service is continuing, albeit over the phone, online conferencing and/or by email. Please contact us in the normal way to take advantage of this service.New applicationsFor new applications lodged, electronic applications are easy to review and validate, with us all working from home.For the time being we have limited access to our office, however this is subject to change at short notice. Any further limitations to access will make the lodgement of paper applications very difficult, if not impossible – so we ask where possible that everything is lodged electronically.Site notices will be sent to applicants to put up (with instructions) and will not be put up by officers.Neighbour letters and media advertising will happen as normal.

Please note that from 14th May 2020, unless otherwise stated, public meetings will take place remotely, with members of the public being able to “attend” via the Cheltenham Borough Council You Tube channel. (You do not require a You Tube account for this).In the event of any apparent failure of the technology being used for a virtual meeting and consequentially the live streaming of the public meeting fails, the meeting will either be adjourned until such time as it is re-established, or closed and the remaining business transacted at a later date.The Planning Committee that was scheduled for 21st May 2020 has been postponed. It has not been confirmed whether the meeting will take place later in the month on 28th May 2020 instead. The interim measures agreed at Full Council is that Planning Committee decisions are being redirected to Head of Planning for determination, but Committee Members have 5 days to comment on the Officers Committee reports before any decisions are taken. Decisions may be delayed and heard at Committee at a later date if there is fundamental disagreement.Full Council met and agreed that for the time being, all regulatory planning decisions will be delegated to officers. All planning committee members will be consulted on applications that would otherwise be presented to the planning committee prior to decisions being made. Read the council report (see Item 14).

The Inspector’s Report on the Examination of the Cheltenham Plan 2011-2031 was submitted to the Council on 17th March 2020. Following the Inspector’s Report, the council will meet to decide whether to adopt the Plan. It was originally hoped to hold this meeting in April 2020 but due to the disruption and uncertainty surrounding coronavirus there are delays to this timetable.





Cheltenham Borough Council continued We are now avoiding visit sites unless absolutely necessary (for example for urgent enforcement matters) – we do not want our customers and staff to be exposed to situations which could spread disease nor do we wish to place additional demands on emergency services. The following will occur for ‘site visits’.Site visits are an important (but not necessarily essential) part of the planning process.Where possible our officers will rely on photos and web-based images to make decisions.If photos are insufficient, officers will arrange virtual site visits (WhatsApp video call) with applicants, and direct applicants to the parts of a site the officer needs to see.There is a temporarily suspension of enforcement of planning legislation and planning conditions associated with those businesses providing services to the community in response to the coronavirus (where they are operating in line with current guidance on the virus). This includes relaxing restrictions on these business such as:

• Hours of operation (such as increasing opening hours)

• Change of use (such as allowing pubs to operate as hot food takeaways)

• Additional service provision• Delivery hours (allowing deliveries for

extended hours)• Temporary advertising providing information

related to coronavirusThis suspension will last for 12 months, unless withdrawn sooner.

In practice, we will be circulating consultations on officer recommendations to all committee members every other Friday, starting this Friday with those applications that were due to be considered at last week’s planning committee that was cancelled.This only applies to those applications that would normally be determined by the planning committee. All other decisions will be made in the normal delegated way.

(See previous page).





Cheltenham Borough Council continued If a site visit is still required, we will seek extensions of time for those applications as opposed to visiting sites.Inevitably this is likely to have an impact on our ability to process some applications.

(See previous pages). (See previous pages).

Cherwell District Council Trying to operate as closely as possible to business-as-usual. Continuing to register and validate applications as they come in. Under regular review and updates will be issued.Officers have changed their working practices to ensure that site appraisals and engagement can be undertaken safely for staff and local communities. Most working from home. Photographs may be requested electronically so that visits can be minimised. Face to face meetings will not go ahead but will try to be held via video or telephone where possible.Officers working remotely and electronically. This may cause some delays with planning service. Further advice to be announced.

Planning Committees cancelled until further notice. To be confirmed.

City of Plymouth Case officers will not be conducting any site visits until such a time that the Government advises that normal business arrangements can resume. This includes going on site to put up site notices. The only exception will be undertaking a planning enforcement investigation where a potential life safety issue has been confirmed. However, no decision will be made on a planning application that requires neighbour notification until a site notice has been displayed and given a deadline for comments to be received.

None scheduled – full council needed to agree meetings first for new municipal year – website indicates seeking to hold virtual meetings but none scheduled.

Plymouth and South West Devon Local Plan adopted in March 2019. No further updates published.





Cornwall Council Priority is to determine all applications where site visits have been undertaken. All site visits and meetings have been suspended and alternative ways of working are currently being considered. All face-to-face meetings are cancelled. Officers can arrange meetings by Skype or by telephone. currently looking at how Skype meetings can be arranged with external participants.Staff are working from home wherever possible. Council offices are closed to members of the public. Not all Officers have access to mobile phones, but they do have access to their answerphone messages and will return calls.Continuing to provide pre-application advice (with the exception of hard copy submissions). Currently offering either a desktop only service or, subject to prior appointment, case officers are available to discuss schemes via Skype of phone (charged as a pre-app with accompanying site visit).

Currently exploring options to expand scheme of delegation and to hold virtual committee meetings to enable decisions to be made without unnecessary delay, in accordance with government guidance. Next uncancelled scheduled committee meeting is 11th May 2020.

Climate Change Development Plan Document (DPD)- Consultation (Regulation 18) will start on 30 March 2020. Due to the unprecedented situation caused by Covid-19, the first round of consultation will be held online only. No public events or exhibitions will be organised. If you are unable to review the document online, a paper copy may be available. Will organise online events and question and answer sessions on Skype.





Cotswold District Council Pre application discussions will be carried out by telephone or by other means of communication, no site visits or meetings will be carried out until further notice.Officers generally working from home.Pre application discussions will be carried out by telephone or by other means of communication. Officers generally working from home.Site Notices will wherever possible be posted out for applicants to display. Officers will be using photographs, Google earth and other media to undertake as much of the site assessment as possible remotely.If a site visit is required the Council will ring first to make sure the applicant is happy for us to attend. Officers will not be entering properties and will require social distancing to be in place. Site visits to vulnerable premises such as care homes or where applicants have advised not to attend will not go ahead. In circumstances where the lack of a site visit is preventing a proper assessment, the Council will seek an extension of time to determine the application if no such extension is agreed the Council is advised that such applications can be refused.Plan checking service will continue as normal, using electronic methods. There are new permitted development rights for some businesses to operate as takeaways. In order to enable shops to be re-stocked, we will not be enforcing planning controls over delivery hours etc. until this crisis is over.

All council meetings have been suspended so any applications which cannot be dealt with under the scheme of delegation will need an extension whilst alternative arrangements are being considered.The next Planning Committee is scheduled for 13th May 2020 and arrangements to accommodate this meeting through virtual means are being explored. Updates to follow.

No anticipated disruption for Officers, but there may be localised disruption at Parish level with respect to Neighbourhood Plans and Design Guides. Suggested to email for future updates.Planning policy telephone line unmanned, recommended to email.

Council of the Isles of Scilly Service as normal To be confirmed. To be confirmed.





Dartmoor National Park Authority Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, once valid the National Park Authority cannot proceed with the normal planning process and are asking for applicants to either delay the submission of applications at this current time or, agree to applications being placed on hold until such time as restrictions have been lifted. If applicants wish to have their applications registered they will be advised that there will be an extension of time requested beyond the normal determination period.

Devon County Council Service as normal To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Dorset Council Closed public facing offices.Telephone calls and emails will be taken when staff are working at home.

The Council is taking steps to arrange for the following committees be held remotely:- Cabinet, Audit & Governance, Area Planning Committees, Licensing Sub-committees; more details will follow on the website as soon as the technical arrangements are in place. However for now all other committees remain postponed.

Purbeck Local Plan Review – Post Hearing Note received (18th March 2020) from the Inspector who is examining the Purbeck Local Plan, following public hearing sessions in July, August and October 2019. Council preparing a finalised set of Main Modifications and an updated HRA and SA. Arrangement will need to be made for a 6 week consultation on the: Main Modifications, HRA and SA – at this stage it is not know when this can be carried out.Dorset Council Local Plan – consultation on the issues and options will take place later in 2020.

East Devon District Council Offices at Exmouth and Honiton are currently closed to the public. Officers are still available on the telephone. The planning service are continuing to process applications as much as possible within the current restrictions. Decisions will be made as soon as possible.

Strategic Planning Committee on 6th April 2020 Cancelled.

Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan adopted 26th March 2019. No further updates published.





Exeter City Council All staff working from home – all normal means of contacting officers will work as normal.All applications which are in the system and have undergone consultation will continue to flow through the system.Beginning to use new methods of working i.e. the Design Review Panel was undertaken via Zoom.

Next planning committee is on 27th April 2020 as virtual committee.

Greater Exeter Strategic Plan - consulting with members electronically. Preparing for consultation in June, still working towards this date and it is anticipated that this may be through electronic means of consultation.

Forest of Dean District Council Offices are now closed but staff are working remotely, and electronic applications and pre-application responses will continue to be processed. The Council will seek to arrange video conferences where appropriate in place of meetings.Site assessments to be undertaken remotely wherever possible and Officers will seek an extension of time to determine applications. Samples will be reviewed via photographs and from manufacturers details. Consultations will all be electronic.All council meetings have been suspended so any applications which cannot be dealt with under the scheme of delegation will need an extension whilst alternative arrangements are being considered. Officers working from home and in some cases support staff are redeployed to assist with other services.Plan checkingService will continue as normal, using electronic methods.Planning appeals All planning appeals due to be heard in March and April 2020 have been postponed due to Government Advice. Updates will be provided when they know more about rescheduled dates.

All meetings suspended until further notice. Currently exploring how to accommodate meetings scheduled for May using digital means.

Issues and Options stage for the Local Plan 2041 was during Autumn 2019. Currently drafting the Local Plan 2041 ahead of comments stage which is to take place during Autumn/Winter 2020/2021. Planning Policy telephone lines unmanned, recommended to email.





Gloucester City Council Officers working from home and Planning Service being operated remotely with no meetings. site notices will be sent to applicants to display (with instructions) and will not be displayed by officers.Site visits being avoided/extensions of time sought where necessary.

All meetings suspended until further notice. The next Planning Committee is scheduled for 9th June 2020. The situation is under regular review.

To be confirmed.

Mendip District Council Mendip District Council offices closed to the public and staff working from home wherever possibleOfficers will no longer be carrying out meetings with applicants or agents either in the office or on site. Officers will risk assess whether a site visit can be carried out and if it is considered that a site visit will put the occupiers, or the Officer themselves at risk, then a site visit, and the decision, will be delayed until such time as one can be carried out.The Council will continue to consider current pre-application proposals but will not accept new submissions until further notice.

Planning Committees cancelled until further notice with virtual committees being explored.

To be confirmed. Suggested to contact planning policy via email.

Mid Devon District Council Seeking to maintain services but with many Officers working from home.The best way to contact officers about a specific application, is via email directly.The admin team will endeavour to respond at the earliest opportunity - may experience delays over the coming weeks.

All meetings cancelled for next 2 weeks – 20th May 2020 committee still scheduled.

Update published 24th March 2020 - The Local Plan Examination Inspector has advised the Council that he is currently working his way through the representations and currently feels that there should be no need for any more hearing sessions. The Inspector has indicated that he expects to be able to commence with his report on the Local Plan shortly and provide this to the Council in May.The timetable for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) examination will depend on the Council’s adoption of the Local Plan. Hearings for the CIL examination are expected to be held later this year, subject to Government advice on public gatherings.





North Devon Council Staff working from home – can still be contacted as normal. The best way to discuss specific applications is to email or phone the case officer directly.Will not be holding any non-essential meetings or site visits for the time being.

Planning committees currently postponed but exploring the options available to enable virtual meetings to take place. As soon as there’s an appropriate system in place, virtual meetings will be arranged.

Progressing as normal – no update.

North Somerset Council Greatly reduced service. Only urgent and emergency matters dealt with by telephone operators.

Following changes to government rules, we will be using video conferencing to hold all forthcoming public meetings ‘virtually’, including:

• Executive• Full Council• Planning and Regulatory Committee and

Licensing Committee• Policy and Scrutiny Panels

Councillors will use Microsoft Teams to take part in the meetings and make decisions on agenda items as required.We will stream the meetings live on our YouTube Channel.Recommendations and decisions about how we provide services are taken by different committees. Records of meeting agendas, reports and minutes are publicly available to view on our website.The next Planning Committee is scheduled for 20th May 2020 at 2:30pm and will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. Please Note that any member of the press and public may listen-in to proceedings at this ‘virtual’ meeting via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKIT7jyh1I

North Somerset Local Plan 2023-2038: Consultation on pre-commencement document running from 10th March 2020 – 22nd April 2020. There is anticipate to be disruption to the publication of consultation responses.Unclear on whether any disruption to the Issues and Options Consultation (Reg 18) scheduled for May to June 2020 – under review.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKIT7jyh1I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKIT7jyh1I




Plymouth City Council Case officers will not be conducting any site visits until such a time that the government advises us that normal business arrangements can resume. This includes going on site to put up site notices.The only exception will be undertaking a planning enforcement investigation where a potential life safety issue has been confirmed.However no decision will be made on a planning application that requires neighbour notification until we are in a position to display a site notice and given a deadline for comments to be received.

To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Sedgemoor District Council Officers are working from home and are only conducting site visits on a risk and contact assessed basis. There are anticipated delays in determining planning applications.Officers will not be able to attend any meetings or site visits in person and if these have not already been cancelled. Officers will be in touch with applicants in coming days to cancel any arranged site visits. It is possible to reorganise a meeting through video or telephone conferencing.

All Council Planning Committees have been cancelled until further notice. Currently considering the logistics of using video conferencing to facilitate virtual Planning Committees.

Under review but little disruption to timetables anticipated at this stage.





Somerset West and Taunton Council Officers will often be able to carry out site visits without needing to directly access properties. Should such access be required they will call ahead and ask without needing to enter any homes or meet owners and occupants.Officers will not be attending non-essential meetings and wherever possible will be undertaking phone conversations and conference calls rather than face to face meetings.There are no immediate plans to cancel statutory committee meetings, but the situation is subject to change based on the latest Government advice. Arrangements will be made for determining planning applications and we will update this information as this becomes clearer.

There are no immediate plans to cancel statutory committee meetings, but the situation is subject to change based on the latest Government advice

Disruption in relation to District wide Local Plan (2019 -2040) currently unclear.

South Gloucestershire Council Officers working from home and in some cases support staff are redeployed to assist with other services.

Virtual Development Management Committee scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2020 at 11:00am. The meeting can be watched by members of the public using the following link: https://southglos.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486988 Further updates to follow.

Planning Policy telephone lines unmanned, recommended to email queries.

South Hams District Council To be confirmed. South Hams Development Management Committee 8th April 2020 Cancelled. Next scheduled meeting 13th May 2020.

Plymouth and South West Devon Local Plan adopted in March 2019. No further updates published.

South Somerset Council Officers are working from home and are only conducting site visits on a risk and contact assessed basis. Face to face meetings have been cancelled and alternative means are being explored at the current time.

April 2020 virtual planning committee disrupted by trolls, but intention to carry on with amended processes.

No disruption to Local Plan Review 2016-2036 anticipated as Reg 18 completed and Reg 19 scheduled for early 2021.


https://southglos.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486988

https://southglos.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/486988




Stroud District Council There will be some restrictions and possible delays to the planning service for the foreseeable. Some planning staff are being redeployed to help with essential Council services, thus reducing the capacity of the service.Applicants and/or agents to display site notices on the application site themselves. This is to avoid unnecessary interaction with officers and also to address a possible shortage of officers to carry out this task in the future. Site notices will be emailed to applicants/agents.Officers are no longer making site visits for any planning function. This is likely to mean you will be asked to agree an extension of time for your application until such a time as we can safely make a site visit. The offices are now closed, and site meetings will not be going ahead until further notice. This means that all pre-application submissions will be dealt with as a desk-based assessment.

All meetings suspended until further notice. Stroud District Local Plan Review 2016-2036: Publication of plan (Reg.19 consultation) scheduled for Autumn 2020 and the submission of the plan scheduled for Winter 2020/2021. Under regular review.

Swindon Borough Council May experience delays in registering and determining applications or responding to queries and enquiries.Planning applications should be submitted electronically. Limited meetings will take place at the Civic Offices until Thursday 21st May 2020. A review will take place at the end of April to assess the situation.

Currently reviewing the position regarding the holding of planning committees and will advise if this impacts on your applications.5th May 2020 Planning committee cancelled.

To be confirmed.

Teignbridge District Council Not accepting any new requests for specific planning advice on new proposals. The online forms for submission of such requests have been removed from the website.

Planning Committee cancelled 16th April 2020. Public consultation into the new Local Plan was launched on 23rd March 2020. The survey will run until 15th June 2020 – the feedback period extended from 6 to 12 weeks.





Tewkesbury Borough Council There may be a delay to registering and approving planning applications due to staff absence. Site visits are no longer taking place.Pre-applications advice service will not be running during the pandemic, whilst we are not accepting new requests those that have already been received will responded to.

April 2020 Planning Committee has been cancelled. No Planning Committees scheduled for May 2020. Commencement of future meetings to be reviewed in the weeks ahead of the scheduled date.

To be confirmed.

Torbay Council Existing work being conclude through extended delegated powers.New applications only accepted electronically and initial desk-top assessment with limited decision making expected.

Planning Committee 20th April Cancelled. The next planning committee is provisionally scheduled on 18th May 2020.

To be confirmed.

Torridge District Council Will not be carrying out any non-essential meetings or site visits. Refrain from coming into the Torridge District Council offices to discuss a planning application. Officers are currently still available on the phone for advice and guidance and it is not anticipated at this stage that this will limit their ability to determine planning applications. Planning Support are currently validating applications and returned invalid information received on 17th March 2020.

All Public council Meetings suspended - further review for future dates underway.

To be confirmed.

West Devon Borough Council To be confirmed. West Devon Development Management and Licensing Committee currently shown a scheduled for 28th May 2020.

To be confirmed.





Wiltshire Council Continuing to process planning applications to help keep the local economy moving, although it is possible that officers may be re-allocated to COVID-19 support work at short notice. All Planning Officers are now working from home - communicate with them via e-mail.Will not be arranging any face-to-face meetings until further notice.Stopped site visits and site notices cannot currently be put up. Wherever possible, now relying on postal neighbour notifications to comply with the legislation, and third parties can continue to view details of applications on the website. However, in certain circumstances (alterations to listed buildings; major developments; and prior approvals) notices will be sent directly to the applicant and request that they are displayed. When submitting applications, include photographs of the site and its surroundings such as if it is a rear extension, photographs showing the rear and its relationship to neighbouring properties, it will help the process.

Advised that the preferred method of public participation is via written statements and questions submitted in writing to be considered at the meeting.Online Strategic Planning Committee – Wednesday 13th May 2020 (10:30am) – Online meeting.

Cabinet meeting held 24th March 2020 which considered the revised LDS for Local Plan preparation. In the event of the planned consultation in the Summer 2020 needing to be delayed due to COVID-19, Local Plan Review timetable will be amended to take account of this.




Region Wales (North)Contact Neil Culkin (Liverpool) Kate Lowe (Manchester)


Conwy Officers working from home and site visits postponed. Still registering applications and working through existing cases and issuing decisions where possible. It is likely that they will start requesting extensions of time.

April 2020 committee meeting is cancelled and it is unclear what the interim arrangements will be as they are waiting for further guidance from the Welsh Government.

Expecting a revised Delivery Agreement for the LDP. They anticipated going on Deposit in September 2020 but this will be delayed by 2/3 months.

Denbighshire To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Flintshire Still offering pre-app however there is likely to be delays. Officers working from home and available for discussions via telephone but have limited conference call facilities. They are seeking extension of times. They will not be putting up site notices.Applications will be made where delegated powers allow.

Discussions in relation to committee and increased delegation of powers are currently being undertaken and updates will be provided in due course.

Unaffected at present.

Gwynedd Officers working remotely but this has affected their ability to register new applications and pre-apps. No placement of site notices or site visits. They are just prioritising the current caseload and what is already in the system and not prioritising new applications. Planning is not considered essential.

Postponed this week and yet to be confirmed what will happen with the forthcoming committees.

AMR will continue. It is required to be submitted to the Welsh Government before the end of October 2020 and hopefully this will be possible. Reviewof plan isn’t due until 2021. Joint Planning Policy Committee was due to meet last Friday to discuss 2 Supplementary Planning Guidance to publish to consultation and these will be reported at the next meeting (the date of which is unknown).

Isle of Anglesey To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.

Wrexham To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed.



Region Wales (South)Contact Jonathan Coombs (Bristol)


Cardiff City Council Phase 1: Operational from 4th May 2020Validate & register Discharge of Conditions (pre-commencement & standard conditions) & Reserved Matters applications.Consult upon, assess and issue officer/Chair decisions on the above types of application (with the exception that any application requiring decision at Planning Committee will await Phase 3).Issue officer/chair decisions on all types of applications with a consultation deadline prior to 10th April 2020.Assess and issue decisions on Certificates of Lawful Development.Assess and issue decisions in respect of requests to works to Protected Trees.Continue to process Pre-Application requests.Continue to advise applicants/agents if information submitted meets our validation requirements. Continue to consider ‘Prior Approval’ applications which require response within 56 days (otherwise consent is deemed).Phase 2: Operational from 18th May 2020 (subject to monitoring prevailing context).Validate and register all types of applications including amended plans, removal/variation of conditions, Conservation Area Consent and Listed Building Consent.Consult upon, assess and issue officer/Chair decisions on the above types of application (with the exception that any application requiring decision at Planning Committee will await Phase 3)Re-consult for a 14 day period on all types of application currently within the system with a consultation deadline after 10th April 2020.

To be confirmed. With regard to Planning Policy, Officers are currently continuing to undertake important background work as part of the ongoing Plan Review process but at this juncture no formal Council resolution has been passed to proceed with a Replacement LDP. Stakeholders will be kept informed of any future plan-making arrangements in due course.




Cardiff City Council continued Phase 3: Precise date to be confirmed following completion of ongoing work but not likely to be before the start of June 2020 as arrangements are worked through.Planning Committee- Work is ongoing in response to Welsh Government issuing new regulations and guidance on 22nd April with regard to the operational arrangements for Local Authority Meetings including Planning Committees. In the absence of any new arrangements being put in place by the Welsh Government with regard to the statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) process, stakeholders should be aware of the risks of initiating a PAC process in the current context. Ultimately, the Council must determine if any subsequent applications can be validated and the current restrictions make it extremely challenging for applicants to effectively demonstrate that the statutory requirements have been met. Enforcement- Planning Compliance Officers will not undertake site visits. Only where a particularly harmful and injurious impact is identified as taking place will a visit be authorised by management, and it will then only be undertaken under certain restrictions. We will not pursue action against the breach of conditions that restrict food and supermarket delivery times, until further statement on the matter is issued by the Welsh Government. Cases where visits have been undertaken and no further on site investigation is required will be progressed as normal.

(See previous page). (See previous page).

Region Wales (South)



Region West MidlandsContact Chris May and Michelle Simpson-Gallego


Birmingham Planning staff are all working from home. Problems being experienced with receiving and dealing with planning application related applications which may lead to changes in service delivery and delays in response whilst BCC adjust to working from home.Pre-App Advice Pre-application site visits suspended; written advice still being offering but may be subject to delays. Current ApplicationsWhere possible decisions on applications will be made using delegated powers. Video conference meetings underway.BCC note that EOT may be required on existing planning applications.New ApplicationsLetter to agents issued 7th April 2020 asking for support and where possible, asking for the submission of new applications be delayed. Agents advised to wait for 3 weeks after registration before contacting Case Officers. Applicants asked to display site notices as planning staff not able to undertake site visits.

First Virtual Planning Committee held on the 24th April 2020. Approval given to a Significant Infrastructure Project, HS2 Curzon Street Station, Phase 1 of the HS2 Development in the West Midlands. The committee took place as a virtual meeting and was well received. BCC happy to roll out virtual committees for determining major applications, second virtual planning committee held on the 7th May 2020.

Policy Officers are working from home, contactable by email.

Bromsgrove Staff working from home. Essential site visits only. Householder Planning Service Telephone only. No face to face meetings.

There will be no Planning Committee’s until June 2020 at the earliest.

Planning policy staff working from home. Work ongoing on the District Local Plan Review, timescales currently unaffected.




Cannock Chase Offices now closed. All planning staff working from home & business as usual (bar site visits which is affecting pre-app enquiries and applications where site visits haven’t already been undertaken and are necessary for determination). Procedures in place for site notices and letters. All meetings are now remotely conducted/ video conferencing.

First remote Planning Committee meeting took place on the 15th April 2020 and the second on the 13th May 2020 – light agenda and completed within 10 minutes.Next Virtual Planning Committee scheduled for the 27th May 2020. Cabinet meeting scheduled for the 21 May 2020.

Two stage Preferred Options consultation likely. First in July/Aug 2020 on urban sites / urban capacity & second stage in Sept 2020 on Green Belt options.

Coventry Planning staff are all working from home, with meetings via video conference. All pre-app meetings cancelled, written advice only. Application site visits are cancelled, applicants required to submit site photographs with applications.

Considering trialling a virtual committee with small, non-controversial applications first before considering for major applications, no confirmed dates as yet.

Officers are working from home.

Dudley Planning staff working from home and any face-to- face meetings cancelled.

All public meetings cancelled. Planning policy staff working from home.Work on the new Black Country Plan is currenlty on hold. The draft Regulation 18 Plan is anticipated in Autumn 2020.

East Staffs Burton & Uttoxeter Customer Service Centres now closed, all planning staff working from home. Applications can be registered, consulted on and delegated decisions issued.

Virtual committees scheduled for 27th May 2020 – to take place on Zoom platform.

Policy Officers working from home.

Herefordshire Council No paper applications or hard copy post will be dealt with - all to be submitted electronically. Staff working remotely, Officers using weekly Webex meetings between teams to keep updated. Website states that ‘applications will be validated but cannot be processed at this time so will be put on hold once validated’.

Cabinet meeting held on the 30th April 2020.First Virtual Planning Committee took place successfully on the 12th May 2020, next scheduled for the 3rd June 2020 via virtual webcasting and streamed live on the Council’s YouTube channel.

Policy work continuing with staff working from home.

Region West Midlands continued




Lichfield Offices now closed. All planning staff working from home except some admin staff retained in offices. All site visits are currently suspended but the Council are keeping this under review. Where site visits have already occurred or are not necessary, applications and pre-application enquiries are continuing, albeit with some delays.

Cabinet Meeting took place on the 12th May 2020 to agree revised LDS – identifies a delay to Reg 19 Local Plan until July (however this was the case prior to lockdown).First virtual committee held on the 5th May 2020.

Staff working from home, advising not expecting programme slippage. Cabinet Meeting took place on the 12th May 2020 to agree revised LDS-identifies a delay to Reg 19 Local Plan until July 2020 (however this was already the case prior to lockdown).

Malvern Hills Planning staff working from home. Pre-apps continuing via email, new applications submitted online can be processed & consultations still ongoing. No site visits being undertaken - asking applicants to provide photos/web- based images/video evidence.Virtual site visits possible via WhatsApp video call.If none of these available, extensions of time will be sought. Applicants being asked to put up site notices (with guidance). Video conferencing can be used for meetings. Some delays expected due to current situation. All enforcement services suspended & relaxation of some restrictions on businesses (e.g. increasing opening hours, allowing pubs to operate as hot food takeaways).

All committees currently suspended. Delegated ability to make urgent decisions on some applications that would normally be reported to committee.

See Wychavon (Part of SWDP).

Newcastle-under-Lyme All planning staff working from home and available via emails and able to liaise with colleagues via Teams. General email for enquiries/pre-apps to be made online.

Planning Committee 31st March 2020 available via video conferencing. Many other Committee meetings cancelled.

Shared service – see Stoke-on-Trent. Both parts of the Draft Plan (Part 1 & Part 2) have been delayed and will now be subject to 6 weeks consultation in Autumn 2020.

North Warwickshire Planning staff are all working from home but not able to receive or process hard copy correspondence.Weekday morning Planning Duty Officer System continuing but email and telephone enquiries only.

Annual Full Council meeting taking place on 20th May but all other committee meetings (including planning) currently suspended. Awaiting resumption of Local Plan Ei.

Examination paused in accordance with PINS guidance.





Nuneaton & Bedworth Planning staff are all working from home. NBBC can register and work on new applications however they are not able to send out consultation letters to residents on new planning applications or display site notices. Decision notices will not be issued until consultation has taken place. All new applicants being asked to agree to an additional 28-day extension on application expiry deadlines as a matter of course.

First Virtual Planning Committee scheduled to take place on the 26th May and 16th June 2020. First Virtual Cabinet meeting also scheduled for the 27th May 2020.

To be confirmed.

Redditch Staff working from home. Applicants encouraged to submit planning applications on the planning portal or online, via email. Site visits may take place where deemed necessary, to be decided by the Case Officer on a case by case basis. Pre-application submissions via email only.

First Virtual Planning Committee scheduled for the 27th May 2020 but not confirmed as yet. Legal, Planning and IT Officers are currently working together to understand and implement the practicalities of holding virtual planning committees.

No Review of Local Plan currently scheduled.

Rugby All planning staff working from home and operating business as usual. Key worker status for site visits ideally conducted from public vantage points, no access into homes. Planning applications being registered, validated and allocated to Officers.Officers can be contacted on their land line numbers which divert to officers’ mobiles. Legal team are key workers also covering other key services so there may be delays.

Officers and members have been working on mock virtual inquiries with Chair, Officers, Members, the Legal Department and IT.First Council meeting due to take place as a virtual committee on the 21st May 2020.First virtual Planning Committee likely to be held on the 27th May 2020.

Work on SPDs and other policy documents continuing.

Sandwell Planning staff working from home but generally ‘business as usual’ approach.

Delegated powers amended so Interim Director can determine applications, Committee Members will be consulted. Looking into the possibility of a virtual Committee meeting. Committee meetings currently cancelled.

Planning policy staff working from home.Work on the new Black Country Plan is currenlty on hold. The draft Regulation 18 Plan is anticipated in Autumn 2020.





Shropshire Council Planning staff working from home and meetings taking place via video conferencing. Some essential site visits are taking place in line with Government guidelines. Planning applications and consultations continuing to take place and applicants are being asked to display site notices.

Planning committee meetings have been cancelled until further notice. Emergency measures for decision making are being considered.

The council has decided to pause work on decision making and consultation on the Local Plan Review.This means that the Pre-Submission version of the Local Plan will not take place in May 2020 as previously agreed. The council are seeking to take this decision in July 2020 and follow this with public consultation between July and September. Shropshire Council acknowledge that the pause in the programme to reflect the current Coronavirus emergency will have an impact on the ongoing Local Plan timetable. It is now expected the Council will submit the Plan for examination in early 2021, with adoption expected in early 2022. The Council will be updating its Local Development Scheme (LDS) to reflect this change to the programme in due course.

Solihull Planning staff are all working from home. First Virtual Planning Committee held on the 29th April 2020 which was supposed to be streamed on YouTube. The Council has posted a note on its website which sets out that ‘Due to circumstances beyond our control it has not been possible to produce a live stream of this meeting. The meeting is being recorded and the recording will be posted on the website as soon as possible’. This recording has now been made public.

Planning policy staff working from home. Evidence for Summer 2020 Submission Draft Local Plan Review consultation ongoing in accordance with the latest LDS. Officers however consider that this is a challenging timetable which may be subject to change. Referendum into Balsall Common’s Neighbourhood Plan will not be scheduled in the near future.

South Staffs Planning staff working from home on varied hours. Skeleton staff in office Tuesday-Thursday. Planning applications taking precedence over pre- app enquiries, advising longer timescales likely, particularly when waiting on external consultee responses.

Planning Committee on 21st April 2020 was the first virtual planning committee.Subsequent Planning Committee meetings scheduled for 19th May, 16th June and 21st July 2020 will also proceed as virtual meetings.Second virtual planning committee taking place on 19th May 2020 - revision to LDS currently being considered.

Planning Policy staff working from home & predominantly business as usual. Preparation of the Local Plan Review is on-going.Officers currently working through 4000+ reps from last consultation - taking longer than expected & timescales have slipped as a result. Next stage of consultation delayed until the end of 2020.





Stafford All Officer working from home. Planning applications and pre-application being dealt with and there are currently no delays with processing applications.

All upcoming committee meetings have been cancelled. This is under review whilst the Council consider virtual committee meetings.

The New Local Plan Issues and Options 2020-2040 Consultation deadline was extended from 31st March to 12pm on 21st April 2020.

Staffs Moorlands Council buildings are closed, staff are working from home.

At present, all Council Meetings are cancelled. Hearings on Local Plan concluded in February 2020. Revised schedule of main modifications will be submitted to the Inspectorate shortly.

Stoke-on-Trent Planning staff are working from home. Council held and streamed a Full Council Meeting on 26th March 2020. Future committees TBC.

Shared service – see Newcastle -under – Lyme. Both parts of the Draft Plan (Part 1 & Part 2) have been delayed and will now be subject to 6 weeks consultation in Autumn 2020.

Stratford-on-Avon All planning staff working from home and can be contacted via email.SoDC displaying all public notices for planning applications submitted on the Council’s website.

Committee meetings postponed. The Head of Planning and Housing will continue to determine all non-contentious planning applications.For contentious applications/matters, including:

• If a local ward member or town/parish council object to or support a planning application (or approval of a reserved matter) that is contrary to an officer recommendation or,

• If an application is made on behalf of the Council or is submitted on behalf of a councillor, member of staff, or their immediate family.

The Head of Planning and Housing will seek views in writing from members of one of our two planning committees and take any views received into account prior to determining the application, with the decision and any views expressed being published on the Council’s website. The Council’s Constitution is currently being updated to reflect these temporary changes, which will be subject to on-going review, with the intention of returning back to usual governance arrangements as soon as it is lawful and feasible to do so.

In April 2020 the Council published a revised LDS with an updated timetable for Site Allocations which was endorsed by the Leader of the Council with a recommendation to the Council that the Revised LDS be adopted. No date has been set as yet for the meeting of the Council. Accordingly the Revised LDS remains in draft. Draft Part V of the Development Requirements SPD, relating to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – expected to be adopted in July 2020.





Tamworth Planning Officers are working from home. Planning Applications - Tamworth Borough Council advised that there may be delays in processing planning enquires, planning applications and planning enforcement matters. Currently the best method of contact is by email to [email protected] visits may be delayed, to be determined on a case by case basis. An extension of time may be required until a time when the site visit can be completed. Applications for works to the front of the property (porches, driveways, garages etc) should be unaffected where a site visit can be carried out safety from the street without close contact. Planning Enforcement - The priority for Enforcement investigations is unauthorised works to a Listed Building or Protected Tree(s) as these matters are a criminal offence. Site visits will still be conducted where possible in relation to allegations regarding this activity. All other matters will be recorded and acknowledged. In order to assess whether there has been a breach of planning control the vast majority of cases require a site visit to be carried out in order to gather the necessary evidence. Under the current circumstances this is not possible. These cases will be investigated once the current restrictions have been lifted.

No committees planned in May 2020. First planning committee scheduled for the 9th June 2020.

Officers are working from home.







Telford & Wrekin Planning Officers are working from home. Consultations with neighbours and the publication of site and press notices are temporarily paused. Applications are still being consulted on and decision due after 14th April 2020 to determine process going forward.With regards to applications that are called in during the period, an additional level of assessment and review will be undertaken by senior officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Committee after which the decision will be made by the Service Delivery Manager for Development Management.In accordance with the requirements of planning legislation, individuals, Parish Councils and Ward Members will still be able to express their views on an application by submitting their comments online or via email.

Committee meetings are now being undertaken remotely through an audio stream which is broadcast live through the council’s YouTube channel. The second virtual planning committee meeting scheduled for the 6th May 2020 is due to take place on the 20th May 2020.

Issues & Options due for Summer 2020 – awaiting April 2020 consultation decision.

Walsall All officers working from home and can be contacted via email. Planning applications continuing to be progressed and decision notices issued electronically.All face to face and telephone duty services have been suspended until further notice. Case Officers unable to carry out site visits but will continue to process current planning applications where site visits have already been undertaken and to respond to pre-application enquiries, tree enquiries and discharge of conditions.All committees postponed. Chair, Head of Planning and Team Leaders will be reviewing which applications can be delegated.

No committees planned in May 2020. First Planning Committee scheduled for the 28th May 2020. Discussions are continuing with regard to wider delegation powers to produce decision notices.

Policy work continuing with officers working from home.Work on the new Black Country Plan is currenlty on hold. The draft Regulation 18 Plan is anticipated in Autumn 2020.


mailto:https://www.youtube.com/user/TelfordWrekin?subject=




Warwick All staff working from home and business operating as usual. All new planning applications being received electronically only via the planning portal or [email protected]. No face to face meetings, meetings currently taking place via telephone calls.

First Virtual Planning Committee to take place on 26th May 2020. The meeting will be held remotely and available to watch on the Council’s You Tube channel.

Planning policy staff working from home on existing policy documents. Work continues to advance key development projects with a long-term benefit for the District.Public consultation launched online for the design of the Tach Brook Country Park and the masterplan for Newbold Comyn. Public consultation launched online on the 14th April 2020 for the Lower Heathcote Local Centre at Lower Heathcote, Warwick on behalf of LSP Developments.

Wolverhampton All planning staff working from home and have access to video meetings with applicants etc. through Microsoft Teams. Paperless approach adopted previously & Council’s print room open so can issue neighbour letters on our behalf.

No public meetings scheduled to take place until June/July 2020. The Council have wide ranging delegated powers, which may be extended further.

Staff working from home.Work on the new Black Country Plan is currenlty on hold. The draft Regulation 18 Plan is anticipated in Autumn 2020.

Worcester City Planning Officers working from home, all submissions to be electronic, cannot accept hard copies.

First Virtual Planning Committee took place on the 23rd April 2020 where major applications were successfully determined. The second virtual Planning Committee meetings due took place on the 7th May 2020. A number of major applications were determined as well as a report relating to the adoption of the Riverside Canal Conservation Area as a material consideration with amendments to the current boundary.The meetings have been well received, being streamed live via the council’s website. Public speakers are allowed to have 15 minutes in total (5 mins per speaker or 15 minutes for one speaker if there was a petition).No committee site visits currently taking place.

Policy Officers sending our requests on anticipated housing delivery rates for consented schemes in Worcester City. (Part of SWDP) - See Wychavon commentary.






Wychavon Planning staff working from home. Pre-apps continuing via email, new applications submitted online can be processed & consultations still ongoing. No site visits being undertaken - asking applicants to provide photos/web-based images/video evidence. Virtual site visits possible via WhatsApp video call. If none of these available, then extensions of time will be sought. Applicants being asked to put up site notices (with guidance).Video conferencing can be used for meetings. Some delays expected due to current situation. All enforcement services suspended & relaxation of some restrictions on businesses (e.g. increasing opening hours / allowing pubs to operate as hot food takeaways).Delays expected in registering and approving planning applications due to staff absence caused by Covid-19.

First Virtual Council Committee meeting held on the 30th April 2020. Agenda Item 1 was a report to members to adopt temporary protocol for dealing with virtual meetings of the Council, including all committee and sub-committee meetings. Next Virtual Planning Committee scheduled for the 28th May 2020.Both committees have been streamed live on the council’s website with public participation based on allocated public speaking slots reserved by registering by 12pm the day before committee and submitted in writing by objectors, Parish Council’s, Applicants or Statutory Consultees. Written submissions are read out at the relevant time by a Council Officer at the relevant agenda item.

All staff are working from home and have call forwarding onto their home phone / mobile. SWDP timetable remains as is, the Council are not meeting with developers at present to discuss sites, phone calls are preferred contact.

Wyre Forest Staff are working from home and it is predominantly business as usual.

The rescheduled Planning Committee of the 21st April 2020 took place on the 23rd April 2020 as a remote virtual planning committee. This meeting was well received by members of the planning committee. Next Virtual Planning Committee virtual Planning committee scheduled to take place on 19th May 2020 and Inspector Mary Travers now appointed to examine the submitted Local Plan.

Planning Policy staff are working from home and it is predominantly business as usual.Wyre Forest submitted Local Plan to SoS for Examination on Thursday 30th April 2020.




Region Yorkshire and HumberContact Nigel Cussen

LPA Working procedures and practices


Virtual Committee Dates

Barnsley Borough Council Officers working remotely but applications are being registered, site notices erected and neighbour consultation being initiated.

No Planning Regulatory Board meetings cancelled as yet. Planning committee constitution is being reduced to 13 Members to assist remote decision making.

A revised Statement of Community Involvement approved by Cabinet on 29th April 2020. This will allow protocols to adjust consultation using digital platforms to accord with social distancing requirements.

19th May 2020 2:00pm.16th June 2020 2:00pm.

Bradford Metropolitan Council Officers are currently all working from home but able to access all online services - Applications are still being considered. Validation is currently experiencing delays of up to a week and Officers will update on consultation delays over the course of an application.

Currently all Committees are cancelled but other mediums are being explored (online etc.).

Preferred Options Consultation on Allocations DPD previously scheduled to be held in June 2020. Awaiting update on whether there will be a delay to these timeframes.

No published dates.

Calderdale Officers now working remotely and able to access all relevant services. Applications are still being considered. May be delays in the short-term.

Currently working towards an on-line procedure for Planning Committee. Next meeting scheduled for 26th May 2020.

Local Plan Examination remains on-going, although hearing sessions unlikely to be resumed until late Summer (potentially September 2020).

Meetings scheduled for May 2020 likely to be cancelled. The Council are setting up mechanisms for a virtual meeting in June, date TBC.






City of York Council The Council are trying to maintain business as usual as much as possible; All members of the planning teams across the council are now homeworking, if able to do so.With regards to Development Management, officers should be contactable by email, if able to work from home. It is believed that there are changes in relation to decision-making and Planning Committee, as currently, Committees at the Council are suspended. For more detailed information in relation to this service area, please contact: [email protected] Council are also prioritising specific services as a result of the current heath emergency. Given this is an ever changing position, the Council are keeping their webpages updated regularly in relation to this.

To be confirmed. Regarding the Local Plan, the Council are continuing to work on the homework items requested by the Inspectors at thier Phase hearing sessions in December 2020. Further updates will be made available via their webpage following their submission of this and instruction from their Programme Officer to publish updates. More information can be found here: www.york.gov.uk/localplanexamination.PINs have also issued guidance in relation to Planning, including Local Plans, and whilst some delays are anticipated in examinations, Inspectors continue to work on plans where possible.

May area and main planning committees cancelled.Provisional dates for June 2020 sub committees 3rd, 4th and man committee 11th.

Craven Borough Council Officers working remotely, many officers don’t have mobile phones and as such are only available by email. All planning advice being allocated via email. Applications can be submitted electronically.

Planning Committee meetings currently suspended.

Local Plan adopted November 2019. Work continuing on other documents / evidence / monitoring.

April and May 2020 committees cancelled.June 2020 committee dates TBC.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

Officers working from home. Emails and telephone calls are being responded to. Officers willing to participate in Microsoft Teams calls.

To be confirmed. To be confirmed. Virtual meeting to be held 15th May 2020 2:00pm.

Region Yorkshire and Humber continued


http://www.york.gov.uk/localplanexamination

http://www.york.gov.uk/localplanexamination






East Riding of Yorkshire Council Improvements to IT infrastructure has enabled staff to work from home, this means that applications can continue to be processed and determined.Telephone lines are still being covered (either in the office or diverted to individual mobile phones) although it would help us enormously if the majority of contact was through email.Staff can continue to be contacted on their work email addresses which will be continually monitored.The Council have started to erect site notices again for all planning applications with staff following strict health and safety and social distancing guidance. This means progressing planning applications in the usual way.In relation to undertaking site visits, case officers have been asked to look at whether safe arrangements can be made to view or access a site, applicants are asked to consider how to assist with this.

Planning Committee and our two Sub-Committees have been reinstated and will be held in line with the published timetable via teleconference.Arrangements have also been put in place to delegate decisions to officers if required. Committee agendas are available at: www.eastriding.gov.uk/ council/committees/the-council/council-meetings/.

The Forward Planning team will continue to progress the emerging Local Plan during this period and can be contacted through their individual email addresses.

Planning committee remote meeting 2:00pm 28th May 18th June 9th July, 30 July 2020.East area sub – 2:00pm 18th May 8th June, 29th June, 20th July 2020.West Area sub – 2:00pm 19th May, 9th June, 30 June, 21st July 2020.


http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/ council/committees/the-council/council-meetings/








Hambleton Every member of the planning service has the equipment and the technology required to work remotely.Officers are working successfully from home meaning that approximately 80% of applications are simply being processed in the usual way, from receipt and validation, through to public consultation and officer reports and recommendations being signed off by Development Managers under delegated authority.At present all new valid planning applications are being validated within 1.5 days and in March, 85% of minor applications, 91% of other applications and all major applications were determined on time. We are keeping the planning system going for the benefit of the local economy and applications are not being stuck in a backlog. To reinforce this point, changes have also been made to decision-making around the other 20% of applications that may otherwise have been referred to the Planning Committee.Officers are still receiving a whole variety of planning proposals and you may be interested to view the application for a new crematorium for the district on land near Skipton-on-Swale which was registered on 7th April 2020 and is now out to public consultation. This is available on the planning pages on our website.

The Planning Committees that were scheduled for April have been cancelled in order to conform to the CentralGovernment requirements around social distancing.Officers have therefore established a new consultative panel with the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee and the Portfolio Holder for Planning to consider applications that Members may have preferred to be committee items prior to the COVID-19 crisis. The first of these meetings was held virtually via video conferencing on Wednesday 8th April 2020 and the agenda consisted of 11 applications being assessed in line with the interim planning guidance for small scale housing developments. The panel concluded that all of these applications should be determined by officers under the scheme of delegation and the decisions issued immediately. This is helping the council to provide a quick and responsive service during the emergency.

The emerging Local Plan for Hambleton was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on Tuesday 31 March 2020 for examination in public. Two Inspectors have been appointed to conduct the examination and determine whether this is sound. The precise date for the opening of any formal hearing will be decided by the Inspectors in due course and Agents will be kept informed. In the meantime, please follow this link for further information: hambleton.gov.uk/localplan/site/index.php

April 2020 meeting cancelled.28th May 2020 still in calendar but to be confirmed whether virtual.


http://hambleton.gov.uk/localplan/site/index.php

http://hambleton.gov.uk/localplan/site/index.php






Hambleton continued Officers have been trained in video and telephone conferencing and are now using this successfully for when you require a meeting.

Furthermore, the Elected Members will be considering new proposals in this emergency situation for even greater delegated decision-making to allow officers to determine, in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee, any other matters that would usually have been decided at a meeting of the Planning committee when a virtual meeting of the Full Council is held on Friday 17th April 2020. The details of that report can be viewed via this link: Full Council Emergency Decision Making.

See previous page. See previous page.

Harrogate Borough Council Development Management Officers are able to work from home and can be contacted via email and phone. We are currently holding public consultation in abeyance but planning applications are still being validated. We are still sending out consultation requests to our consultees.

To be updated. To be confirmed. The Council’s website states that meetings are being held virtually and the next meeting is scheduled for 2nd June 2020 at 2:00pm. Further details TBC.

Hull City Council Development Management Officers have working from home capability, and are contactable by both e-mail and telephone. The Council has an office duty rota.

Through a rigorous delegation scheme, planning committees will be reserved for determination of the most contentious applications. The planning committee is continuing to sit, observing social distancing with physical attendance, supplemented by video links to other members participating remotely.

No emerging Local Plan, however policy work is continuing.

Virtual meeting and video of site in place of site visits was held on 29th April 2020.The next meeting is scheduled for 19th May 2020 at 2:00pm.







Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council

Planning officers are working from home. Current planning applications are progressing and decisions have been issued. New applications will be validated, however Officer site visits on new applications will not take place. All electronic correspondence and submissions will be processed, however postal submissions will not.

Work is currently being undertaken in order to establish the operation of remote meetings, although no specific date can be provided at this stage in terms of planning committees. Further information about updates of meeting dates can be found using the link below.https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

The Kirklees Local Plan was adopted in 2019 and is not currently being reviewed.

April 2020 committee cancelled. Information regarding May 2020 TBC.

Leeds City Council All Planning officers are now home based. Existing applications are being processed and will be determined by delegation where possible or appropriate. New applications are being registered and passed to planning officers. Statutory consultation is being commenced but as site notices cannot be erected and neighbour letters cannot be issued, public consultation is not being started. consequently, consultation and site visits will not take place until restrictions are lifted, so new applications are likely to be delayed.

All 3 plans panels are proposed to continue to operate on a virtual video conference basis. Panel officer reports will still be issued as normal prior to meetings and it is being considered whether officer PowerPoint presentations will be issued. Speaking opportunities for applicants and 3rd parties will be restricted although they are considering permitting submission of MP4 files.

Development plan officers are working from home but it has not been proposed to amend the timetable for the local plan review at this time.

City Plans panel remote meeting 1.30pm 21st May 2020.Area panels no dates confirmed for May 2020.

North East Lincolnshire Council All officers are working from home and contactable by phone / email.

Arrangements are being put into place for a virtual planning committee to be held in May 2020 (details to be determined).

Local Plan was adopted in 2018. No impacts on policy making at present.

Committee on 29th April 2020 cancelled.No committee scheduled for May 2020.


https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1






North Lincolnshire Council As well as supporting local people during the current pandemic, North Lincolnshire Council continues to provide the majority of its normal services. This includes planning, which is operating but with some minor changes to keep the staff and people using the service safe. The council has robust systems in place for people to work remotely – including people working in the planning service. As normal general enquires can be sent by email to [email protected] or by calling the council’s contact centre on 01724 297000. Case officers can be contacted directly using their email address.

April planning committee was deferred and it is the Council’s intention to hold a virtual committee meeting in May 2020.

North Lincolnshire Council has not taken the decision to change the timetable for its Local Plan Review. Any updates will be published on the NLC website.

Virtual committee meeting 2:00pm,12th May and 3rd & 17th June 2020.

North Yorkshire County Council To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be confirmed. To be updated.

Richmondshire District Council The planning department is continuing to operate and determine delegated applications. Officers are remote working but are contactable by telephone or email. Officer are still fully contactable, via Skype, phone or email.

The Council are currently putting things in place to enable virtual meetings to take place. Further details to be provided when known.

The LP timetable and LP Working Group will remain.

6th May 2020 committee was cancelled.Details for meeting scheduled for 2nd June 2020 TBC.

Rotherham Metropolitan To be confirmed. Planning Board Meetings in April 2020 cancelled. Next one is scheduled to take place at 9am on 21st May 2020It is highly unlikely the May 2020 meeting will go ahead. The Council are still ironing out how to progress virtually.

To be confirmed. 30th April 2020 committee was cancelled.Details for meeting scheduled for 21st May 2020 TBC.


mailto:planning%40northlincs.gov.uk?subject=






Ryedale District Council Officers are working from home and able to correspond via email including technical staff.

All Council meetings and Committee meetings are currently suspended, although mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that Councillors continue to direct Council activity. Details will be published soon of alternative arrangements when they are available.

Staffing shortages generally on progressing Local Plan function. Council are seeking to update the Local Development Scheme.

No dates confirmed.

Scarborough Borough Council Officers are working from home and contactable by email. There are no undue delays with regard to validation, however they are currently not posting site notices.

April 2020 planning committee has been cancelled and alternative means of undertaking the May 2020 meeting are in development.

Issues and Option stage for the emerging Local Plan was due to commence in Q3 of 2020. Whether there will be any changes to the timescales for the emerging Local Plan is under review.

Committee scheduled for 14th May 2020 1:00pm, details of how this will be held TBC.

Selby District Council At present the planning teams are now working from home and can be contacted by email or via their usual phone extensions (office phones have been re-directed to mobiles). The contact centre is also able to forward calls to Officers.Selby DC have adopted a temporary process to replace usual committee procedures under powers of the Coronavirus Act. These powers enable the CEO and Leader of the Council to make Urgent Planning Decisions, following digital consultation with elected members of the planning committee. The process will remain in place until at least 1st July 2020. Further information on this process is available on the following link:https://www.selby.gov.uk/ceo-urgent-decision-session-planning

Decisions being determined weekly by delegated powers in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and nominated members of the planning committee. Procedures to remain in place until at least 1st July 2020.Further information available on the following link:https://www.selby.gov.uk/ceo-urgent-decision-session-planning

Local Plan - progressing as per timetable, currently analysing consultation responses. Next consultation scheduled Jan 2021.The planning policy team are continuing to progress the Local Plan in accordance with the Local Development Scheme.We will continue to review the situation regularly depending on sickness levels and requirements for re-deployment.

No committee dates scheduled.


https://www.selby.gov.uk/ceo-urgent-decision-session-planning









Sheffield Council Scheduled IT roll out was planned to be implemented later this Summer. Not all Officers are equipped to work from home. Limited bandwidth available for Officers to work online (no more than 500 can work online at once).

Planning Committee on 31st March 2020 cancelled. Next one due to take place on 12th May 2020 by video conference.

Milestones in recently published LDS now likely to be delayed by up to 2 months. Though it is a matter of public record that development schemes in or adjacent to the city centre will be prioritised above suburban greenfield releases.

Committee to be held by video conference on 12th May 2020 at 2:00pm.

Wakefield City Metropolitan Borough Council

All Wakefield planners are home-based now, including their administration.They are still registering applications, assessing and issuing consultations.The Council have highlighted that they are unable to issue or erect site notices so this is going to prevent new applications going to decision and extensions are being sought.

Wakefield Council is provisionally proposing holding a remote Planning Committee on 11 June 2020.This is subject to being able to ensure the meeting is accessible to all parties and that the meeting will meet statutory requirements, and that all parties can be involved in the Committee Meeting.

Local plan work has been delayed as the consultation which was intended for the spring has been delayed to October 2020, hence the overall local plan programme will be delayed by approx. 6 months.

No Planning committee arranged for May 2020.Details for June 2020 TBC.


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BRISTOLFirst Floor, South WingEquinox NorthGreat Park RoadAlmondsburyBristol, BS32 4QL


CAMBRIDGESuite 4 Pioneer HouseVision ParkHistonCambridgeCB24 9NL


CIRENCESTERPegasus HouseQuerns Business CentreWhitworth RoadCirencesterGL7 1RT


DUBLINOrmond Building31-36 Ormond Quay UpperDublinDublin 7

E [email protected] +353 (0) 1526 6714

EAST MIDLANDS4 The Courtyard Church StreetLockingtonDerbyshireDE74 2SL


LEEDSPavilion CourtGreen Lane Garforth LeedsLS25 2AF


LIVERPOOLNo. 4 St Paul’s Square LiverpoolL3 9SJ


LONDON10 Albemarle StreetLondonW1S 4HH


MANCHESTERQueens HouseQueen StreetManchesterM2 5HT


NEWCASTLE The Corner26 Mosley StreetNewcastle upon TyneNE1 1DF


PETERBOROUGHAllia Future Business CentrePeterborough United Football ClubPeterboroughPE2 8AN

E [email protected] 01733 666600

GROUP SERVICES5 The PrioryOld London RoadCanwellSutton ColdfieldB75 5SH

E [email protected] 0333 0160777

Date post:	23-May-2020
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