Consultations and notifications

Depending on the application, we may need to provide consultation with the local community or with certain organisations, known as statutory consultees. Timelines for the consultation periods may vary.

A decision cannot take place until consultation and notification periods have finished.

However, not all types of applications need consultation and some that do allow different amounts of time for people to respond. You can read our guidance about the types of applications we notify residents about and their timescales.

Residents will be notified either by: 

• displaying notices on or near the application site 
• posting letters to properties that directly adjoin the application site 

For large scale major applications we also place adverts in a local newspaper. 

For most types of applications we allow a minimum of 21 days notification from:

• the date notification letters are sent to neighbours
• the date a site notice is displayed
• the date an advertisement appears in a local paper

Statutory consultees are normally given 21 days.

The notification and consultation periods are calculated from the date when we last notified or consulted. This means that after the notification letters are sent to residents the consultation period could be extended depending on the timing of the press advert and site notice. The date when the consultation period ends is shown on our website as the ‘Expiry Date’.

Extensions

A consultation period may be extended when significant changes to an application are received before a decision is made. We usually allow 14 days for comments to be sent to us.

Valid and decision dates

The valid date is when a complete application, with all the information needed, is received. It is also the date when formal consideration of the application starts.

The decision date is when we issue a decision notice. When no date is shown, a decision notice hasn’t been issued. We aim to issue decision notices within three working days after a committee meeting.

When a decision is approval subject to a legal agreement, the decision notice is not issued until the legal agreement is signed.