Environment and planning > Planning
View the planning home page for information on Planning Policy and Development Control.
City of Durham planning is also available through the national Planning Portal.
| Building and landscape design services |
| Ensuring that new development meets local criteria in respect of land use, practicality (drainage, parking, access etc.) and environmental considerations. |
| Business plans - advice |
| Information and advice to local businesses on how to set up a successful business plan. May well include directing businesses to third party organisations which offer advice to business. |
| Coastline - protection |
| Review and maintenance of coastal protection (sea walls etc.) within the local authority area. |
| Common land and village green register |
| The local authority is responsible for maintaining a register of common land and village greens within its boundaries. |
| Development control |
| Development Control is responsible for the determination and monitoring of planning applications, and other associated applications (listed building consent, advertisement consent etc) submitted to the Council under the Planning Acts. |
| Listed buildings register |
| A 'listed building' is a building, object or structure that has been judged to be of national historical or architectural interest. The council are responsible for considering applications to demolish a listed building or for any alteration or extension which would affect its character as a building of architectural or historic interest |
| Local development framework |
| The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced a new type of plan called a Local Development Framework. This is made up of a series of documents called Local Development Documents (LDDs). LDDs will provide the planning framework for the consideration of planning applications by the Borough Council. They replace the previous system of plan making, which comprised Local Plans and Structure Plans. |
| Local plan - minerals |
| Every local authority in the country has a legal duty to publish a minerals local plan. The plan should provide detailed development control policies relating to minerals working and the treatment and disposal of waste. |
| Local plan - waste |
| Where the Council is the local Waste Planning Authority it is required under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to prepare a 'Waste Local Plan'. A Waste Local Plan is a statutory plan that addresses the land-use aspects of waste management. It deals with all waste managed in the area including that generated by businesses and the construction industry in addition to that produced by households. In Scotland National Policy Planning Guideline 10 (NPPG 10) establishes that the land use implications of waste management will be addressed by an area's local plan(s) and that policy will incorporate the objectives of the National and Area Waste Strategy. |
| Planning - advertisement control |
| Under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements Regulations 1992) or the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984 Art 11 (4) planning permission is required for certain types of advertisements and advertisements in specified areas. The Act(s) also require copies of a Direction made under the regulations to be kept open to inspection. |
| Planning - environmental policies |
| The local authority is committed to sustainable development through its local agenda 21 process in which it continuously improves its services, policies and practices to contribute to a better quality of life. In the UK Agenda 21 covers social progress, environmental protection, use of natural resources and economic growth. |
| Planning - high hedges |
| From 1 June 2005, provided they have tried and exhausted all other avenues for resolving their hedge dispute, people have been able to take their complaint about a neighbour's evergreen hedge to their local authority. The role of the local authority is not to mediate or negotiate between the complainant and the hedge owner but to adjudicate on whether - in the words of the Act - the hedge is adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of their property. |
| Planning - local plans |
| The local authority prepares local plans to address conservation and development issues and set out policies on these matters. Local plans provide the basis for making decisions on planning applications. |
| Planning - natural heritage areas |
| The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 Schedule 7 para 12 obliges local authorities to maintain a register of National Heritage areas which is available for public inspection. |
| Planning - transport policy |
| A costed and affordable 5-year implementation programme of schemes and policy measures to improve transport in the local area. The plan should contain a set of targets and performance indicators and other outputs which can be used to assess whether the plan is delivering its objectives. |
| Planning advice and guidance |
| Planning and Design Briefs |
| Planning appeals |
| Planning applications - business |
| A person proposing to alter, extend, build or change the use of premises must apply for planning permission for development from the local authority. Planning permission for businesses is usually granted in line with the development plan for the area which will include policies relating to commercial and industrial development. |
| Planning applications - residential |
| If a resident is thinking of making alterations to their house/flat they will need to consult the planning section to see if they require planning permission. Applicants will need planning permission if the applicant's premises is a listed building, if the applicant is planning to alter or extend their home, if there is a change of use (working from home) and no longer a main home or if the applicant is interested in putting up a new home. |
| Planning area search service |
| Area searches provide a check of the neighbourhood surrounding a property to find out what planning applications have been approved or refused. It provides current and historic planning application information for a specified area around a chosen property. |
| Planning consultations |
| The involvement of the public in the planning process. When planning applications are submitted there is a comprehensive system in place which ensures that proposals are publicised in order to invite comments from the local community. |
| Planning decision notices |
| The local authority is required to issue a formal decision notice on all planning applications. Notices should clearly state whether planning permission is granted or refused and should also provide the applicant with information on how to appeal any decision. |
| Planning enforcement |
| Planning policy |
| Planning service and performance |
| Statutory development plans |
| Development plans focus on land use development and protection set within the context of wider social, economic and environmental trends and considerations. |