Duty Planning Officer

This Page gives information regarding the operation of the Duty Planning Officer including times of operation, what you need to bring with you and a link to the One-stop-shop form.

The duty planning officer scheme

As of the 02 April 2012, the working practices in relation to the Duty Officer system and pre-application enquiries will change as a result of the introduction of a pre-application charging scheme.

However, The Council will still provide a free Duty Officer service (although this will be limited to 15 minutes) in order that simple, straightforward queries can be dealt with in an efficient manner.

The Duty Planning Officer will be available to deal with professional enquiries (either by telephone or in person at reception) Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. This service is not a statutory service and may not always be provided as this is subject to the availability of Planning Officers.

The Duty Planning Officer system is intended to provide a better service to our customers. Working on a rota basis the Duty Planning Officer will enable other Planning Officers to concentrate on dealing with your applications, appeals, correspondence and other related matters and it is therefore a more effective and efficient use of their time.

The Duty Planning Officer should give general advice to householders, agents and any other customer of the planning service. The intention of this service is to provide very quick and simple guidance to agents, residents and local businesses wishing to carry out development which may require planning permission. The Duty Planning Officer Service is not available to provide advice on complex or involved sites.

The Duty Planning Officer will not normally be able to answer questions about specific planning applications, about which you should contact the Planning Officer dealing with the application, directly.

If you would like to know about the progression of your planning application please contact the planning case officer or consult the Public Access web pages of our web site where key details regarding time-scales, consultations and decisions can be found.

Advice which the Duty Officer should give could be any of the following areas of general enquiry:-

1. General advice on householder development proposals for applicants or neighbours (extensions/alterations and outbuildings).
2. Guidance as to whether planning permission is required for any development proposals.
3. Assessment of permitted development, advising on procedures and process.
4. Pre-application advice in respect to minor development proposals and householder applications.
5. Answers to technical planning questions.
6. Advice on the costs of submitting a planning application.
7. Advice on the completion of planning forms and plans that need to be presented to validate an application.
8. General advice in respect to the planning process and how planning applications are assessed.
9. General advice about matters that are taken into consideration in processing an application received.
10. Advice in respect to details of planning permissions that have been granted and/or conditions that have been attached to planning permissions, including the discharge of condition process and requirements.
11. The Council's planning policies, standards and guidelines.
12. Interpretation of plans and drawings.

It is unlikely that the Duty Planning Officer will be able to give specific advice on:-

1. The technical merits of current applications.
2. Revised applications following a refusal of planning permission.
3. Enforcement proceedings.
4. Advice on resolving breaches of planning control following an enforcement investigation.
5. Deciding minor amendments to planning permissions.

Advice on these should be sought by discussing them with the relevant Officer who has dealt with the application or appeal previously.

What you should bring with you

The more information that you can provide the easier it will be to provide clear advice. As a minimum you should have a clear idea of what you want to do, with plans or sketch drawings (if possible); be able to describe the site, buildings and current use(s) together with details of any previous planning permissions if known. In addition it would be helpful to have photographs of the site and surrounding area.

How do i contact the duty planning officer

By calling at the Council Offices on Station Road, Wigston (LE18 2DR) during the hours given above. At present the system is operated on a 'drop in' basis which may mean at busy times you have to wait.

Alternatively you may telephone Leicester (0116) 257 2636. If the Duty Planning Officer is busy then your details will be taken and a Duty Planning Officer will call you back by the end of the next working day at the very latest.

What if the duty officer asks me to send in more information/plans

If more plans/information are required to give advice, you will be referred to the chargeable pre-application advice service. Further details of this can be found on the Do I need planning permission (pre-application advice) webpage.

What if i need to see a specific planning officer

It may be that to give advice (for a specific proposal) a meeting with the Planning Officer dealing with that proposal is required, in which case you will be advised to make an appointment direct with the Planning Officer concerned.

General

Advice given by the Duty Planning Officer is based on the information provided at the time and without the benefit of a site visit nor full knowledge of the particular circumstances/history of the property or site. Any advice given by the Duty Planning Officer does not indicate any formal decision by the Council as Local Planning Authority. Any views of opinions expressed are given in good faith and to the best of ability, without prejudice to the formal consideration of any planning application taking into account any views of interested parties and/or consultees, which may be forthcoming in a formal application process. The formal decision maker(s) are therefore entitled to make their own judgements on acceptability without being bound by previously expressed officer views.

Should you require a formal determination of whether planning permission is required a Certificate of Lawfulness for a Proposed Use or Development should be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for consideration.

Note: Advice on when planning permission is required is only valid on the day it is given and any changes in legislation may ultimately change whether permission is required or not.