Planning Performance Agreement Protocol

Until further notice due to the Coronavirus we are unable to accept PAPER planning applications, comments on planning applications, compliance complaints or forms relating to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) as all staff are now working from home. Planning applications must be made electronically via the planning portal www.planningportal.co.uk . Comments on planning applications must be made on the online by searching for the application on the website and entering a comment https://www.arun.gov.uk/weekly-lists , compliance complaints must be made on the online form https://www.arun.gov.uk/planning-compliance and the submission of CIL forms (with the exception of CIL Form 1 which must be submitted with the planning application itself) must be sent to CIL@arun.gov.uk.

There is currently no change to the Council’s scheme of delegation and some applications will still need to be determined at a Committee meeting. The Council has recently adopted new procedures in line with the Coronavirus Act 2020 to allow for Development Control Committees to be held ‘virtually’. The Government sent a letter to local councils recently, which is attached here: Chief Planners Newsletter - March 2020.pdf [pdf] 135KB .

We will not issue any delegated officer decision to approve a major application or a minor application where there are a significant number of objections and the Parish/Town Council have not had the opportunity to comment because of the Covid 19 Pandemic until consultation has been carried out with the Chairman of the Development Control Committee and Portfolio Holder for Planning to confirm that they are in agreement that a decision can be issued.

About Planning Performance Agreements

The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has introduced Planning Performance Agreements (PPA’s) as a more effective mechanism for handling planning applications for large, complex development projects. A PPA allows applicants and local authorities to negotiate a flexible timescale that reflects and responds to the particular circumstances of the individual development proposal. A PPA can only be entered into with the agreement of both the applicant and the Council.

A PPA is a Council-wide agreement and should also include the pre-agreed commitment of statutory agencies and key partner organisations. Arun District Council has established a formal process in the form of a PPA Protocol which sets out the Council’s generic approach and commitment for dealing with complex development projects.

A fundamental principle of PPA’s is the front loading of activity, prior to submission of the planning application to ensure that applications are of a high quality both in terms of the material submitted and the content of the proposal. A successful PPA should ensure that collaboration has taken place with all relevant stakeholders and that the vast majority of issues have been addressed prior to submission of the planning application.