Accessing planning services

Planning Service's Customer Charter seeks to ensure that all members of the community have fair and equal access to the functions provided by the Council’s Planning Service's. We are concerned with answering any queries you may have about planning applications, planning policy or any other matters dealt with by the service.

Although the majority of contact with the council is by telephone or in person at our city centre office, we appreciate that there are people who may require additional support with access into our services. These arrangements are assessed on individual need and are outlined below for planning applications.

Home visits

Why you might want a home visit by a Planning Officer

You may request a home visit in relation to any aspect of the matters dealt with by the service. However, a typical example would be the need to see plans of your neighbour’s proposed house extension. In this case a planning officer will visit you to show you the plans and will answer any questions you have in relation to interpreting and understanding the proposals. You might also be interested in accessing other plans, policies or proposals set out in the council’s Local Development Framework and Area Action Plans.

What the Planning Officer will do

The planning officer visiting you at home will conduct themselves professionally and courteously and will always show you their identification card. During such a visit the planning officer will explain the details of a planning application proposal but will avoid discussing its merits. Any views you have that are submitted in writing to the local planning authority will be taken into account when considering the application.

Please note that such written representations must be received by the authority within stipulated time limits - normally, 21 days is allowed although later representations may be able to be taken into account. If for any reason you are unable to make your views in writing, you may ask the planning officer to write them down at your dictation. If you judge that circumstances warrant it, you should consider having a family member or friend present to communicate with the planning officer on your behalf.

Monitoring home visits

In the past there has been no separate record of home visits carried out by planning officers. However, such visits are now recorded so that regular monitoring of this service can be carried out in an effort to learn from experience and to make improvements where necessary. We hope that your experience of home visits will meet your expectations. However, we are always glad to hear from you about the service provided.

Plymouth’s Public Interpretation and Translation Service

Translate Plymouth offers access to interpreters and translators, including a number of linguists amongst Plymouth City Council staff (who offer their language skills as and when possible) and also independent freelance linguists. It also offers expert advice and information on interpretation and translation issues generally. Visit the Translate Plymouth page.

Planning Aid Service

If you need free independent professional advice on planning issues, consider contacting the Planning Aid Service on 0870 850 9807 or visit the Planning Aid Service website.

Documents

To view these documents you might need to download some software. Visit our downloads page for more information.

Accessing planning services - information about accessing planning services and our statement on home visits. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 136KB

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