Development control

What is development control?

The Development Control section of the Department deals with applications for planning permission for such work as new buildings, extensions, change of use (of buildings and land) and advertisements. Planning permission is normally required before most building works are carried out or changes made in the use of land or premises. Consent may also be required if you intend to make any internal and external alterations to a Listed Building (known as Listed Building Consent) or to demolish a substantial part or for the total demolition of a building in a Conservation Area (Conservation Area Consent).

Pre-application information and advice

The most frequent form of development is extensions to houses. If you wish to add an extension to your home and if you would like more information about applying for planning permission, please refer to the advisory leaflets available on this website or from the Customer Service Centre at the Council Offices.

Informal planning advice can be provided over the telephone or more formally by a pre-arranged meeting with a planning officer.

All advice is provided on a without prejudice basis only and is not binding on any future decision of the Council.

Advice over the telephone

You can contact the Development Control section on 01727 819344 or 819345. This section operates a telephone duty rota system. From 9am to 1pm, the telephone lines are staffed by the planning technicians who can respond to general and straightforward planning queries (for example, information on current and previous planning applications), and take messages to pass on to specific case officers.

From 1pm to 5.15pm (4.30pm on Fridays) telephone lines are staffed by a planning officer, who will seek to assist with more specific planning enquiries and those of a more complex nature. Individual case officers can be contacted via the main switchboard between 2pm and 5pm.

The Environment Agency offer a free pre-application service.  If the proposed development site is a hectare or more, in flood zones 2 or 3, close to a watercourse or on potentially contaminated land it is worthwhile using this service to check the likely EA response at planning stage.  You can send your pre-application enquiry to colneplanning@environment-agency.gov.uk and download their pre-application form from http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33580.aspx.

Pre-application meetings with planning officers

All meetings with planning officers are by pre-arranged appointment only. Appointments on planning matters can be made with the duty planning officer between 1pm and 5.15pm Monday to Thursday, and 1pm and 4.30pm on Fridays. Separate meetings with specific application case officers can also be made for a mutually convenient time, by direct contact with the relevant case officer.

At the end of the meeting, you will be given a copy of the Summary Notes for Duty Planning Meetings to take with you. 

The Council operates a charging scheme for meetings with applicants and their professional advisers (see Charges below).

All pre-application and advice meetings will be held at the Council Offices. Officers are unable to hold a site meeting without a prior advice session in the office and the prior deposit of plans or written proposals. If, exceptionally, it is necessary to convene a meeting on site, travel time to and from the site will be charged at the hourly rate.

Help us to help you
In order for you to get the most out of the meeting and for officers to provide you with the best advice on your proposals, you should send us your plans or written proposals well in advance of the meeting.

Free advice for St Albans City and District householders*
For householders wishing to discuss applications with respect to their own homes, the Council offers a free advice service for up to one hour at a meeting with a duty planning officer or case officer.

If the householder is accompanied by a professional adviser, such as a planning, architectural, surveying or legal consultant, then the professional charges below will apply. Should the householder require a meeting longer than one hour, or a further meeting to discuss the same development, a charge will be levied at £50 per hour or part thereof.

* The Council reserves the right to ask for proof of residency (eg utility bill, driving licence etc).

Charges for pre-application planning meetings

Under the provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act 2003 (Section 53), Local Planning Authorities are able to charge for meetings with applicants and their professional advisers.

The charges per hour (or part thereof) for 2009/10 are:

Band A            Major Proposals             £600
(10 dwellings or more, building development of 1000 square metres or more or sites in excess of one hectare for retail, industry, warehousing)

Band B            Minor Proposals             £250
(fewer than 10 dwellings, building development under 1000 square metres)

Band C            Other Proposals             £50
(domestic extensions, advertisements, proposed lawful development certificates)

Exemptions:   Meetings with householders, with respect to the homes they occupy, for up to one hour are free, after which Band C charges apply.

Payment must be received in advance of the meeting.  The Council reserves the right to invoice any unpaid sums owed, which will be subject to our usual credit control procedures.  These charges are reviewed each year.

For further information, please contact:
The Planning Department
St Albans City and District Council
St Peter's Street
St Albans   AL1 3JE
Tel: 01727 819344 or 819345
Email: planning@stalbans.gov.uk

How do I apply for planning permission?

A planning application comprises drawings of your proposal, a site plan to indicate the location of the property, completed application forms and a fee, the level of which varies depending on the works involved (the amount is set by Central Government). Other information may also be required in order to process your application and you should ensure that you provide all the information listed on the appropriate validation checklist. Planning permission will normally take around 8 weeks to obtain once the application has been registered as valid.

Who will make the decision?

Planning applications are determined either by one of the three Area Planning Committees, which meet approximately every three weeks, or by officers under powers delegated to them by the council's constitution. Most applications are determined under these delegated powers. The Planning Committees usually only make decisions on planning applications for major developments, those proposals that raise significant public concern, or those 'called in' by a District Councillor.

There is an opportunity for people to speak at the Planning Committee meetings. Guidance is available in the leaflet, Public Speaking Procedure at Planning Committee Meetings.

Site visits

Appointments aren't necessary for planning application site visits. The officer will make a site visit at their convenience, unless they don't think that they will be able to get access, in which case they will contact the applicant. However, appointments are required for Building Control site visits. These officers will visit a site only if there is a Building Regulations application in, and the applicant or their builder will need to telephone the day before to make the appointment on either 01727 819289 or 819218.

Copies of documents

Copies of Decision Notices, Section 106 agreements and Tree Preservation Orders can be provided. All requests for copies should be put in writing to Technical Administration, Planning and Building Control, St Albans City and District Council, St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 3JE. We make a charge of £17 per copied document and require the money before we will release the copies. Cheques should be made payable to St Albans District Council. Please ensure that you allow at least two weeks for your request to be processed.