How Planning Applications Are Decided

Once we receive your application we will:

• register and acknowledge your submission
• scan all documents to the Council’s document management system
• assign a planning officer to be your case officer

Your case officer will:

• keep in contact with you
• coordinate consultations, site visits and negotiations
• review planning policies and make a recommendation to the Director for Planning
• should the application need to be determined by the Planning Committee, your case officer will confirm a meeting date once this is known

Consultation

When an application is registered, it is available to view on the council’s website for comment on the proposal.

The council will publicise the application by displaying a site notice and in most cases, write to the adjoining properties.

We may seek the views of a range of public bodies. Other sections within the council may also be asked for advice or information to help us make a decision.

Comments on the application

We publish most planning applications on our website.

We normally allow three weeks for comments on planning applications, so you need to make sure to contact us during this period.

You can comment online using the public comments form found on each live planning application

Given the number of comments we receive every day, there can be a delay in publishing these to the website.

More information on how to comment can be found here – How to comment on a planning application effectively – South Oxfordshire District Council

We carry out site visits

We’ll usually carry out a site visit so that we can be sure we understand the development and how it affects the area within which it is located. We’ll contact you to view the site if it isn’t visible from a public area. If a site visit isn’t required, we’ll let you know.

Sometimes we need view the site from neighbouring properties and we’ll make the necessary arrangements directly.

Revised applications

Sometimes applicants withdraw an application and resubmit a similar scheme. You will need to comment again on the revised scheme because we review applications separately.

If we receive amended drawings for a scheme, we will let all interested parties know and provide more time for comments on the revised proposals. We don’t always consult on amended drawings, and the case officer makes the final decision on this.

How long does it take to make a decision?

Householder applications usually take between seven to eight weeks to determine once they are validated, provided that no complications arise. Major applications usually take longer, and we’ll discuss a target determination date with you.

Once the planning case officer has considered the proposals and the consultation period has expired, they will make a recommendation on whether to grant planning permission.

Significant revisions

If the scheme is not acceptable, and significant revisions are required to make the scheme acceptable, these will generally not be invited. Instead, we will explain the issues and give you the opportunity to withdraw your application and resubmit it in an amended form.

Minor revisions

There may be times we ask for minor revisions. If this happens, we’ll give you a set time frame to provide these.

Planning Committee

Most decisions are made by senior officers under delegated powers. There are certain exceptions to this which are set out in our Constitution. 

Councillors can also ask that an application is determined by the Planning Committee.

Decision notice

Once a decision has been made, the decision notice will be issued and published on the council’s website. We will not directly notify those who have submitted comments on the application.