Changes after planning permission is granted

Non material applications

Some changes to plans are 'non material' and do not need a new planning application. If you think this is the case you can make an application to us.

The application costs £43 for a householder application or £293 in all other cases.You must give notice to any person who is an owner of the land. 

Non material applications:

• can be made by someone who has a legal interest in the land (does not have to be the original applicant)
• do not need a Design and Access Statement
• often do not require neighbour notification and consultation
• take into account any comments received within 14 days of the application

We can usually make a decision within 28 days and the application and decision is added to the planning database register.

How we decide

We will decide if the works are 'non-material'. The judgement on "materiality" in any case is one of fact and degree, also taking into account the likely impacts of the amendment. In deciding whether a change is material, officers will have regard to the effect of the change, together with previous changes made under this section, on the planning permission as originally granted.

If the changes are considered to be more substantial than 'non material' it may be more appropriate to make an application for a 'minor material' amendment under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As amended). A minor material amendment is one whose scale and nature results in a development which is not substantially different from the one which has been approved although please be aware this is not a statutory definition.

Section 73 applications

A Section 73 application is an application to vary the existing condition that the council uses to approve the plans and particulars submitted as part of your planning application. When considering this type of application officers recognise that by definition the development will have already been found to be acceptable in principle and instead will focus on national policy, development plan policies or other material considerations that may have changed significantly since the original grant of permission, as well as the changes sought.

Where an application under Section 73 is approved, the effect is to create a new grant of planning permission. Consequently, the decision notice will normally set out all the conditions the planning authority wishes to impose, including relevant ones from the previous consent.

This application costs £234 and follows the normal notification and consultation procedures.