Extension of Time for planning application query

melb

hi there don't know if this will vary by area but there is an outline planning application in for some flats near me which has been approved several years ago. They have applied for an extension of time. Can anyone tell me how long this would be for and if the local authority would automatically get in touch with them if they do not either apply for a further extension or start the building works? i know you have to start building within 3 years of application being granted (mind you then still need to give details of building materials spec etc). thanks for any help

planning_officer

If outline planning permission was only granted a few months ago, it's very odd that the applicant is already applying to extend the time limit. The outline application will be valid for two years, during which time they have to submit a further detailed matters application for any issues that were not assessed under the outline application. An outline application will only consider certain aspects of the proposal and does not allow any works to start, until a further detailed matters application has been approved. Are you sure the original outline permission was only granted a few months ago? Are you also sure it was an outline permission and not a full permission?

The short answer to your question would be that the Council could grant another two years for an outline application (or three years for a full application).

melb

hi planning officer have only just seen your reply. don't know why you thought the application had only gone in a few months ago - i said it was several years ago. In fact it was 2005. it was an outline application only. if the time elapses for the "extension of time" will the whole application have to be re-applied for or will it still exist - also will the council contact the applicants to warn them that the extension time is about to elapse. thanks

chrisw

The planning officer is not quite correct. An outline application is normally valid for three years, during which time they must submit a reserved matters application which is valid for two years, unless the local authority specifies different limits.

Therefore if there were no further applications since the outline in 2005, the permission will have expired in 2008 and a complete new application will be needed.

However, the government recently made provisions for extending time limits for applications that were already in force in october 2009 and again in 2010, which consists of a simplified application process. If a reserved matters application had been submitted around 2008, it could fall under this process. This will result in a new permission with the timescales as above.

The council will not warn anybody that a permission is about to elapse.

planning_officer

chrisw wrote: »

The planning officer is not quite correct. An outline application is normally valid for three years, during which time they must submit a reserved matters application which is valid for two years, unless the local authority specifies different limits.

Therefore if there were no further applications since the outline in 2005, the permission will have expired in 2008 and a complete new application will be needed.

However, the government recently made provisions for extending time limits for applications that were already in force in october 2009 and again in 2010, which consists of a simplified application process. If a reserved matters application had been submitted around 2008, it could fall under this process. This will result in a new permission with the timescales as above.

The council will not warn anybody that a permission is about to elapse.

Quite right, apologies, must have written my earlier post rather hurriedly! And I'm not sure why I thought the original poster said a 'few months' either - should have been a 'few years'! Sorry too!