Planning Committee meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Council offices, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely.  Planning Committee is a public meeting.

The Planning Committee agenda is published on the Friday before the meeting and you can also see the working file during that period.  Details of meeting dates and agendas, where available, can be found on this website.  A copy of the agenda is also available at main reception and public libraries.

Planning Committee usually deals with those planning applications not already approved by officers in accordace with their delegated powers, plus some other items, e.g. enforcement action.

  District Councillors on the Planning Committee must consider each planning application on its merits, taking account of current legislation and planning policies.  You may wish to check with the case officer to see whether the application in which you are interested is to be considered by the Planning Committee.

View Planning Committee Councillor Membership

Written Representations

If you have made a written representation about a planning application that is going to Committee, your written comments will be summarised within the agenda papers and considered by the Committee.  As the meetings are open to the public you may attend the meeting just to see what happens. The Council also operates a public speaking process.

Relevant Ward Councillors are consulted on all planning applications within their Ward and are allowed to make comments on them.  Parish/Town Councils are consulted on all planning applications and their comments are considered as a representative of each local community.

Relevant/Irrelevant Issues

The relevant issues will vary with the nature of the proposal and site, but may include the following:

• Structure and Local Plan policies
• Government planning guidance
• Planning law and previous decisions
• Highway safety and traffic
• Noise, disturbance and smells
• Residential amenity
• Design appearance and layout
• Impact on trees, listed buildings and conservation areas.

Irrelevant issues will vary from case to case but the following may be considered irrelevant:

• Matters covered by other laws
• Boundary or area disputes
• The developers morals or motives
• Suspected future development
• Loss of view over other people’s land
• Effect on value of property
• Personal matters

Speaking at Planning Committee

It is possible for members of the public to speak at Planning Committee.  For more information about how to arrange this, please view our Speaking at Planning Committee information, which will give you details about what you need to do to register.

You can also download our leaflet using the link below, which explains about speaking at Planning Committee.

Statements are documents that explain the design thinking behind a planning application. For example, they should show that the person applying for permission (the applicant) has thought carefully about how everyone, including disabled people, older people and very young children, will be able to use the places they want to build. Statements should include a written description and justification of the planning application. Sometimes photos, maps and drawings may be needed to further illustrate the points made.

They will be available alongside the application for anyone to see, so should avoid jargon or overly technical language. It is important that they are written specifically for the application they accompany. They need not be very long, but the amount of detail they contain should reflect how complex the application is. So, a statement for a major development is likely to be much longer than one for a single building. 

For further information on statements relating to the Historic Environment please visit our Conservation pages.

General guidance is contained in the downloadble documents listed at the bottom of this page. Alternatively the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment have produced a booklet entitled Design and access statements, how to write, read and use them.

If you do not wish to use the Planning Portal to submit your application to us electronically, then you can download and print the relevant application forms below. You will also need to download and complete the relevant validation checklist to accompany your planning application.

You need to supply two copies of everything, including the application form, all drawings and associated supporting documents.

PLEASE NOTE: New planning fees came into force for applications received on or after 22/11/2012. 

The current planning application fees can be downloaded here. 

For Developer Contributions and Section 106 Obligations please see Supplementary Planning Document.

As part of the application form you will be asked to complete the relevant Certificate of Ownership. Some certificates require notices to be served and/or a press advert; wording for such notices can be viewed via the planning portal (known as Notice 1 or Notice 2), please see relevant application form guidance notes for further details.

Householder Applications:

1. Householder application for planning permission for works or extension to a dwelling

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

2. Householder application for planning permission for works or extension to a dwelling and conservation area consent

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

3. Householder application for planning permission for works or extension to dwelling and listed building consent for alterations, extension or demolition of a listed building

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Full Planning Permission Applications:

4. Application for planning permission

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

7. Application for planning permission and conservation area consent for demolition in a conservation area

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

8. Application for planning permission and listed building consent for alterations, extension or demolition of a listed building

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

9. Application for planning permission and consent to display an advertisement(s)

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Outline Permissions Applications:

5. Application for outline planning permission with some matters reserved

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

6. Application for outline planning permission with all matters reserved

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Reserved Matters and Removal or Variation on Conditions

23. Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

24. Application for removal or variation of a condition following grant of planning permission

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

25. Application for approval of details reserved by condition

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Conservation Area Consent, Listed Building Consent, Tree Works or TPO or in a Conservation Area

10. Application for conservation area consent for demolition in a conservation area

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

11. Application for listed building consent for alterations, extension or demolition of a listed building

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

26. Application for tree works - works to trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and/or notification of proposed works to trees in conservation areas

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Advertisement Consent

12. Application for consent to display an advertisement(s)

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Lawful Development Certificate

14. Application for Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use or operation or activity including those in breach of a planning condition

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

15. Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed use or development

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

Other Types

16. Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed building

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

17. Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed road

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

18. Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - excavation/waste material

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

19. Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed fish tank (cage)

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

20. Application form for prior notification of proposed development by telecommunications code system operators

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

21. Application for hedgerow removal notice

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

22.Application for prior notification of proposed demolition

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes
• Validation Checklist

27. Application for a new planning permission to replace an extant planning permission, in order to extend the time limit for implementation.
Application for replacement of associated listed building and/or conservation area consents in order to extend the time limit for implementation.

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes

28. Application for non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission.

• Application Form
• Guidance Notes

Do I need Planning Permission (Domestic/Householder)?

There are a number of issues to consider before an answer can be given.

Some minor alterations and extensions, particularly to houses, can often be carried out without the need for planning permission. If you live in a house (but not a flatted property), you can make certain types of minor changes to your home without needing to apply for planning permission. These rights are called "Permitted Development Rights" (PD Rights).

In certain circumstances your property may have its ‘PD Rights’ removed.  This could be by any of the following:

• A Condition when permission was originally granted for your dwelling
• An Article 4 Direction (these are made by the Council when the character of an area of acknowledged importance would be threatened. They are most common in conservation areas. You will probably know if your property is affected by such a Direction).
• The property is a Listed Building
• The property is within a Conservation Area

The Planning Portal’s ‘Interactive House’ is a useful tool, which explains some of the legislation, and is available on their website: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/house

We have created a checklist to make it easier for you to establish if you need planning permission.

If you are in doubt about any restriction on your house, you should contact the Planning Department for clarification.  If there is a restrictive Covenant on your house/estate, this would be separate issue from any planning aspects.  You should seek your own legal advice on such Covenants.

Pre-Application Advice

When your development project is one that cannot be carried out under PD rights, our Development Management Team actively encourages pre-application discussions, as this is often helpful in ensuring that your application is dealt with as smoothly as possible when formally submitted. It should also enable any potential planning issues to be identified so that you can address them in your application.  A charge is made for this advice, payable in advance.  Please visit our Pre Application pages for further details.

Even if a planning application is not required, but you would like confirmation that this is the case, you can apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Development. This does need a fee, but it may be helpful if you subsequently wish to sell your house, and the buyer needs assurances that any works to the dwelling will not be subject to enforcement action.

Important Notes:

It is your responsibility for seeking, or not seeking, planning permission. If it is required, planning permission should be granted before any work begins.

Whether you require planning permission or not, you may still require Building Regulations approval. Go to our Building Control pages to find out more.

If you require further information please contact us via our Customer Services Team. Details of our opening times can be found on our contact page.

Submitting a planning application electronically

You can submit a planning application to the Council online using Central Government's Planning Portal. If you choose to use this method, then you do not need to download the Council's forms as everything you require is available on the Planning Portal website. The Planning Portal allows you to:

• Complete an on-line application form
• Calculate and pay the application fee
• Buy site location plans
• Attach drawings
• Submit your application electronically.

Submitting a planning application manually

If you do not wish to use the Planning Portal to submit your application to the Council electronically, then you can download and print the relevant application forms. You will also need to download and complete the relevant validation checklist to accompany your planning application. If you use this method, you will also need to supply 3 copies of everything (or 10 copies for a major application), including the application form, all drawings and associated supporting documents.

1:2500 Ordnance Survey location plan for planning applications

Please note that the Council can no longer supply Ordnance Survey maps to accompany planning applications. Maps can be purchased online from the Ordnance Survey mapping website, Planning application maps website or the Planning Portal website when submitting an application. Maps can also be purchased from the following retail outlet in Cambridge:

• Blackwell's Map Centre, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, Tel: 01223 568417
  (offer a postal service)

Once your application is ready for submission, please post or deliver it to:

Development Control Service
East Cambridgeshire District Council
The Grange
Nutholt Lane
ELY
Cambs
CB7 4EE

If you would like to talk to someone about submitting a planning application, please contact us using one of the methods available on our Customer Services Contact Page (will open in a new window).

Once your application has been received and validated, it will be assigned to a planning officer who will deal with your application.  If you have an agent acting on your behalf, any correspondence about your application will be with them direct.

Who Makes the Decision on a Planning Application?

Decisions can be delegated, that is, taken by senior professionally qualified officers within Development Services, or by the Planning Committee comprising 13 District Councillors (which normally meets on the first Wednesday of each month).  Currently the Council determines approximately 80% of all applications using delegated powers.

• View current Planning Committee membership.
• Check the dates of planning meetings, agendas and minutes on this site.

Decision Timescale

The Council strives to make a decision within 8 weeks or 13 weeks for major applications. Consultations normally take up to 28 days from the registration of your application. You may find it useful to contact your case officer about 4 weeks into your application to check progress. Alternatively you can find out the key dates relating to your application by:

• Visiting our Public Access website to view your application online.
• Email the Council to request an update from the Case Officer, or check with your agent if you one have acting on your behalf.
• Telephone Development Services Customer Support on 01353-665555
•  Visit the Council offices at The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4PL during the following hours:
  • 0900 - 1630 Mon-Thurs
  • 0900 - 1600 Fri

What Happens Once a Planning Application has been Approved?

A formal decision notice will be sent to you or your agent, or you if you are not using an agent within a few days of the decision being made. This notice will include the date of the decision and any conditions relating to the consent. You should check the conditions of your consent carefully, as there are often further details (such as samples) of materials that need to be submitted to the Council and agreed in writing before development can lawfully commence.

If conditions have been applied you may need to provide further information to the Council. There is a fee for submitting such information - £28 for householder applications (eg. an extension) and £97 for all other applications (eg. a new house). This fee applies each time information is submitted; you may therefore wish to provide all the information needed in one go, to avoid having to pay the fee more than once.

Failure to comply with conditions can result in formal action against you and may also invalidate your planning permission.

What Happens if a Planning Application is Refused?

A formal decision notice will be sent to you or your agent within a few days of the decision being made. This notice will include the reason(s) for your application being refused.

Applicant’s have a right of appeal (Go to appeal section of this site), however, there is no right of appeal for third parties such as neighbours.

You are recommended to contact the case officer to discuss whether or not revised proposals may be acceptable prior to considering an appeal.

What Happens if a Planning Permission is not Taken Up?

Planning permissions are valid for a specified time from the date of the decision, depending on the type of application and/or conditions that may apply. If an application is not commenced before the expiry date, then the planning permission lapses any further development on the site would need to be the subject of a new application.

Visitors to the Council's website can now view planning applications online using the "Public Access" Internet Service. This service allows you to:

• view details about planning applications being considered by the Council,
• monitor progress of applications,
• submit comments
• Make an objection

The information is constantly updated and includes a weekly list facility of live, and decided, applications. Hopefully, Public Access is user friendly, but we have produced a guide to help you through the steps:

Public Access User Guide

Please note that any information provided by individuals submitting planning applications and/or providing comments on planning applications, will be published on the Councils website.

Go to the Public Access online service

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Plans, drawings and materials submitted to the Council are protected by Copyright (Section 47, 1988 Act). You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed, for consultation purposes, to compare current application with previous schemes, or to check whether development has been completed in accordance with approved plans. Further copies must not be made without prior permission of the Copyright Owner.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Please note the following:

• In order to use the facilities provided by Public Access you will need to use Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5 or newer if you wish to use the map element of the site. Other browsers are supported for non-map based usage.
• Public access to planning applications is available online between 7am and 12 midnight daily.
• This online service continues to be developed, and at present is showing documents received after 1 April 2009. If you wish to see the full case file, please contact the Council's offices to arrange an appointment.
• Limited constraint information is available, but there may be information not displayed, so you are advised to contact Development Services for more details.
• Historical application information is incomplete and must not be used as an alternative to carrying out a formal Land Charge Search.
• Details of previous applications currently dates back to 1991. No responsibility will be taken for any errors/omissions in the planning history.
• Please note decision notices are only available in PDF format from 2005 onwards.

Please take a look at our user guide to help you make the best use of Public Access.

Under normal circumstances the plans and documents associated with new planning applications will be able to be viewed within 5 working days of receipt of the application. If none are displayed at the time you look, you may wish to try a few days later or if you do not have access to a computer at home, you are able to use the public computers at the Council Offices during normal office hours.  Alternatively, an appointment can be made to view the working file by contacting the Support Team on 01353 665555 or via email bcplcopies@eastcambs.gov.uk and give 48 hours notice of which file you wish to view, including the planning reference number.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of property data. However, if you find a problem relating to a property address, please email our ICT support staff with the relevant details and they will look into the matter for you.

• Go to the Public Access online service

The following links offer useful information:

• Design & Access Statements
• Planning Permission - A Guide for Business
• General Permitted Development Order (GPDO)
• Environment Agency - A Guide for Developers
• Outdoor Advertisements and Signs: A guide for Advertisers
• Planning Portal - home page
• Planning Portal - Local Plan
• Planning Portal - guide to planning permission
• Make a planning application using the planning portal
• Planning Portal - appeals
• Planning Portal - study section
• Planning Portal - research section
• Planning Portal - The Planning System

You can also download our own guidance notes and leaflets using the links below:

You are advised to engage in preliminary discussion before submitting a planning application.

As of the 1 July 2010 we have formalised the overall process to include an application form together with appropriately scaled charges.

PLEASE NOTE

Pre application enquiries are not intended to deal with Permitted Development (PD) queries.  You can refer to the Planning Portal Interactive House in the first instance.  If you require written confirmation of PD rights you should apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness of proposed use.  You can complete Form 15 from the application form page or alternatively you can apply online via the Planning Portal.