Planning Inspectorate issues advice note for councils on Planning Act 2008 regime

The advice note says: “The Planning Act 2008 (as amended)... contains many processes where a local authority has a special role and their participation is expected. This advice note seeks to explain when and why, a relevant local authority should take part in the process.

“This advice note provides an overview of that special role to enable authorities to target their resources more appropriately and effectively.”

The note covers:

• A local authority’s role;
• Planning Inspectorate roles and responsibilities;
• Pre-application stage: environmental impact assessment; statement of community consultation; engaging in developer consultation; concerns about the pre-application consultation; Wales; mitigation; planning performance agreements; joint working arrangements;
• Acceptance stage: just before submission; submission of application; adequacy of consultation; representation;
• Pre-examination stage: relevant representations; delegations; the preliminary meeting;
• Examination stage: local impact reports; statements of common ground; written representations; planning obligation; open floor hearings ; issue specific hearings; compulsory acquisition hearings; end of the examination;
• Post-examination;
• Post decision.

A copy of the advice note can be viewed here.

See also: New PINS advice for local authorities on NSIPs by Angus Walker