Local Planning Authority Designation (non-major applications)
St Albans City and District Council has received a ‘designation notice’ in relation to speed of decision making for non-major planning applications.
A statement on this matter can be seen on the Council's website.
Designation - what it means for planning applicants
A local planning authority can be designated only if “the Secretary of State considers that there are respects in which the authority is not adequately performing its function of determining applications”. There are two categories - the speed which applications are dealt with, and the quality of decisions made. The designation in St Albans District relates to speed of decision making for ‘non-major’ applications.
Non-major applications include developments of between one and nine homes, floorspace of less than 1,000 square metres, or developments where the site area is less than one hectare in size.
Where an authority is ‘designated’ as underperforming, applicants have the option of submitting their applications for determination directly by the Planning Inspectorate (who act on behalf of the Secretary of State).
This excludes applications for:
- retrospective development
- householder applications
- applications to vary or remove conditions on an existing planning permission
- applications for permission in principle
- applications for technical details consent
- applications for discharge of conditions
- and applications for advertisement consent and lawful development certificates
Applicants still have the option of applying to the Council for non-major development should they wish.
For more information about 'designation notices' see the government website: Improving planning performance: criteria for designation (updated 2022)
See also:
240306 Minister Rowley to St Albans City District Council - Designation Letter