If you have a question about planning this is the best place to start.
The Planning Service is keen to engage more with all our service users, we hope you will find the following newsletter(s) useful. All future editions of the newsletter will be distributed to the Developer and Agents Forum members, if you wish to receive these you will need to register and join the Forum. They will also be made available below.
No, by law, all comments received in response to planning applications (including the name and address of the person making the comment) form part of the application documentation and must be open for public inspection. This information will be displayed on our website along with your comment. Signatures, personal telephone numbers and email addresses will be removed/redacted. For further detail find out how we handle your information. Concerns about personal/sensitive information Before submitting your comment it is your responsibility to ensure you do not include any information that could compromise the security of yourself, others or any premises (e.g. information about vulnerable persons, holiday dates or details of when a property is left empty). If you are concerned about your details or the content of your comment appearing on our public register please email your comment to planning@northumberland.gov.uk and make your concerns clear (do not submit it online).
If you are unsure if you need permission or what the current use class is and want Planning Services to advise the only way to obtain this advice is to submit a Pre-application enquiry. If you think you do need permission you will need to pay the correct fee and make a planning application. There are specific prior approval forms if the change does come under prior approval. If not you will need to use the full planning consent form or the outline planning consent form. You may also need listed building consent in addition to these (note: an outline application cannot be used for a change of use of a listed building). For changes of use to existing dwellings please use the application form for Full Planning Permission (not the householder planning permission form) for the following:
Every proposal is individual, is likely to require input from different consultees and be considered under various planning policies/regulations. We cannot answer these questions over the phone or by email because it takes time and further detail to assess this properly based on specific details about the site and scale of the works. This is why you would need to put in a separate pre-application enquiry for each of the options. More about our pre-application service.
When you receive an acknowledgment letter this will show the expected decision target date (statutory timescale) for your application. Note: this statutory timescale only begins from the date your application is valid (complete) not from the date it was received (unless valid upon receipt). Find your target date on our Public Access Planning Register.
What are the Government's statutory timescales?
What happens if my application is not dealt with on time?
Where an application has not been determined within the relevant statutory period (or such other period as has been agreed in writing between the local planning authority and the applicant), the applicant has a right to appeal to the Secretary of State against non-determination. For further detail visit the government's Planning Practice Guidance website.
If a tree is protected and works are required because the tree is considered to be dead or imminently dangerous, a formal full tree works application is not required but you would still need to notify us using a 5 Day Notice for trees.
If you don't know which team within Planning Services your query relates to please send your email to planning@northumberland.gov.uk and it will be distributed to the correct person/team. If you are emailing us about a specific site or application please include the site address and reference number so we can find it. If you need to contact us by phone please call the Customer Services number on 0345 600 6400. They will take a message and log it with the correct Team to respond. Officers will aim to respond within 3 working days and resolve with 10 working days. Where it is clear at the outset that an extended period will be necessary to respond, the Officer will advise. Please include any application reference and your email address with your message so we can provide an informed response. Building Control is a seperate department to Planning. All queries relating to building regulations approval are dealt with by the council’s building control team. Contact details for each area team are provided on the building control pages.
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