The approval of plans and projects - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 367

controversial or where it raises issues of national policy. If either the applicant or local
planning authority request it a hearing or public inquiry must be held. To aid the
call-in process authorities are required to notify the Secretary of State of any instance
where they intend to approve an application which represents a substantial departure
from the development plan. The Secretary of State also issues directions requiring
notification about particular types of proposal which are of special policy significance.
For example, to reinforce the Government's policy over the intensification of urban
development in PPS3, authorities within defined growth areas have to notify the
Secretary of State before giving planning permission for housing developments at a
density of less than 30 dwellings per hectare.
Prior to deciding on a development application a planning authority has to notify
various statutory consultees and take account of any representations they may make
(Box 22.2).
Planning authorities are set targets for the time period taken to determine
applications (eight weeks for minor developments, thirteen weeks for major ones) and
their performance in meeting these is included in their Best Value CPA. However
authorities will specify the evidence they need to consider different types of application
(which in the case of major developments will include a Transport Assessment) and
will not accept receipt of an application until this is provided. In practice because of
an applicant's interest in maximising the probability of obtaining planning permission
there are likely to be extensive pre-application discussions over major proposals before
the formal application procedure is set in motion.
A large proportion of applications involve 'householder' or other relatively minor
developments which are normally determined by an authority's professional officers
under 'delegated powers'. Applications which are considered by elected members have
to go before a committee of the authority (i.e. they cannot be decided on by a single
executive member). The officer's report on the application, including a summary
of the observations made by consultees plus his or her recommendation, is a public
Box 22.2 Statutory consultees on development applications
Consultees include
• the Regional Planning Body (on proposals which are of major importance in
terms of the implementation of the RSS)
• the Highways Agency, on proposals which affect a trunk road - speciically which
i) alter access arrangements to an existing trunk road
ii) are likely to result in a material increase in volume or change in character of
traffic on such a road
iii) are likely to prejudice the improvement or construction of a proposed trunk
road
iv) and in respect of all developments within 67 metres (formerly 220 yards) of an
existing trunk road
• (except unitary authorities) the local highway authority (on proposals as (i)-(iii)
above which affect a classified road other than a trunk road)
Source: Town & Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.