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> Planning > General advice

General advice on the planning application process

This section gives general advice on the planning application process.  If you want to make an application please read our guide on making a valid planning application

If you are thinking about making alterations to your property or changing its use you may need planning permission from the Peak District National Park Authority.

The Authority has a legal duty to control development within the National Park but we are keen to do everything we can to help you with your application.

Over 80% of applications are approved.

You should also check with your local district council in case you need building regulation approval as well.

The planning process

Establish if you need permission

Not all work needs planning permission. To see if your proposal does, follow our guide Do you need planning permission? which will also indicate what sort of application you need.

Making an application

If your proposal needs permission you will need to complete and submit a number of forms and other pieces of evidence.  Some of these are standard forms for development across the East Midlands region and some are specific to developments within the Peak District National Park.

Unless your application is straightforward, it is a good idea to use an agent to help you with the plans and paperwork.  If an agent is employed we will usually make contact through them rather than directly with you.

If you are completing the application yourself, the quickest way is by using the national online planning application system called the planning portal which will help you through all stages of the application including payment.

You can submit printed applications but be aware these will take longer to process and may cost you more money.

Processing the application

Initial processing
Your application will be checked to ensure you have completed all the documents and paid the correct fee (55KB)   If information is missing or the wrong fee has been paid we will let you or your agent know by letter.

Once everything is correctly completed and the right fee paid your application will be formally registered. You or your agent, will normally get an acknowledgment within seven working days and be told which planning officer is dealing with your application.

Consulting with others
The planning officer dealing with your case will make sure the application is properly advertised and all the relevant people are consulted.  This includes:

• Parish Councils/Meetings (38KB)
• Neighbours
• Local Authorities
• Highway Authorities and other interested parties.

People have a right to comment on applications and what  they say will be acknowledged and taken into account before any decisions are made.

Processing your application
A planning officer will normally visit the site and assess your application against regional and local planning policies and guidance.

You or your agent will be contacted by the planning officer if changes to your proposals are needed. The aim is to reach agreement on an acceptable proposal.

The recommendation

The planning officer will consider your planning application against planning policies and take into account all views given during the consultation period.

A report will be written which recommends either approval or refusal and will give the reasons why. If an application is recommended for approval, it may include certain conditions. The report will also list all these.

Reports will be passed on to either senior planning managers or authority members to make a decision.

The decision

Applications which are straightforward and consistent with policies are decided by senior planning managers under what is called Delegated Powers.

Major planning applications, or those which go against policy, are considered by Members at our Planning Committee.

Again applications will be approved, approved with conditions  or refused. In rare cases where planning committee members recommend approving an application which is against planning policy the matter will be sent to a full authority meeting for a final decision.

At both planning committee and full authority meeting applicants can speak in support of their applications before decisions are made.  Objectors and supporters can also speak about an application through our public participation scheme.

You, or your agent, will usually be sent a decision notice letter within three working days of the decision being made. You will normally be able to see the decision on our website within three working days as well.

People who have commented on, or been consulted about applications, are usually told the result within ten working days.

Appealing against a decision

If you do not understand how the decision has been made or the reasons for it the planning officer will explain this to you.

If you disagree with the decision you have a right to appeal to an independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

If you are not happy with the way your application was dealt with you should contact  the Planning Liaison Officer in the first instance.

Related pages

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Tel: +44(0)1629 816200 Fax: +44 (0)1629 816310 Email: customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk