The Planning Process

Wiltshire Council does the following when considering a planning application:

• it no longer posts a 'green notice' outsider all planning application sites - now only some of them
• it writes to neighbours
• it publishes a notice in the local newspapers
• it publishes the application on its website
• and it emails to local PCs

Charlton Parish Council is consulted on local planning applications:

• Notification arrives from Wiltshire council by email, and the planning application papers are available on-line, on a webpage for each application on the Wilts Council Planning website.
• Basic information will be posted on the Charlton PC website, News page, to inform residents, and current applications are listed on this website.
• The information is circulated by email to Parish Cllrs.  They look up the on-line application plans and papers.
• Charlton PC’s next actions will be decided by Cllrs: 
  • If any Cllr objects to an application, or if Cllrs detect that some residents are unhappy about an application or that there is anything contentious about an application, the PC’s response will be decided in a formal PC meeting.
  • If no Cllr nor residents have any concerns about an application, the PC’s response will be decided by all-informed emails.
• The PC will not consult formally with residents and Parish Cllrs make their best judgement of what is best for the village or wider parish, and/or for residents (but Cllrs may consult informally).  But before discussing any application in a PC meeting the PC will always check the relevant Wilts Council webpage for any comments, positive or negative, that have been posted.
• There are usually three weeks to make any response to an application.  Sometimes we may have to request (of the Wilts Council Case Officer) a delay in our response in order to discuss it in the next scheduled meeting; and sometimes we may have to arrange an additional meeting between scheduled meetings in order to discuss perhaps a single planning application, if Wilts Council could not accept a delay.

Residents are encouraged to respond direct to Wiltshire Council on a planning application if they wish to, but they should note that the following are relevant issues and non-relevant issues, as laid down in law, when responses are considered by Wiltshire Council:

 

Relevant issues:

• Development Plan Policy
• Government Guidance
• Highways safety and traffic
• Design, appearance and layout
• Effect of the level of daylight and privacy
• Conservation of buildings, trees and open land
• Need to safeguard the countryside
• Noise disturbance and smells

 

Non-relevant issues:

• Effect on the value of a property
• Loss of a private view
• Inconvenience or other problems caused by building works
• Matters covered by other laws
• Private property rights
• Possible future development
• The fact that the development may have started
• Trade objections based on competition
• Moral objections