Applying for planning permission

Communities and Local Government has launched 1APP, a standard planning application form which replaces all existing types of planning application form (except minerals) within England. Shropshire County Council started implementing 1APP from 5 March 2008.

If you wish to submit a planning application for waste or County Council development you will need to use the 1APP form which can be accessed via the link to the Planning Portal website on this page.

A planning application for minerals development can be submitted using the online minerals form via the link on this page.

Shropshire County Council's preferred method of submission is by completing the relevant online planning application form.

Need for planning permission?
The County Council deals with planning applications for minerals and waste, and developments relating to the council's own services, such as education and social services. All other applications in Shropshire are determined by the relevant district or borough council. Guidance on the need for planning permission is available by following the link to the Planning Portal website. Alternatively, the County Council's Planning Development Control team can give you advice. The team's contact details are shown on this page.

Prior discussion with planning officers
Before submitting any application it is recommended that you discuss the proposal with a member of the Planning Development Control team. Such pre-application discussions may highlight issues to which particular attention should be given in the application.

Online submissions
Submitting an application online is quick and easy and is the council's preferred method of submission. To submit an application online select either the link to the Planning Portal site, or the link to the online minerals form. Guidance notes for completing the online form and validation checklists are provided.

Downloadable planning application forms
These are available along with guidance notes on their completion and validation checklists by following the link on this page.

Application fees
The cost of submitting an online planning application is the same as that for submitting a paper application. Guidance notes detailing the relevant fee categories are attached to this page. Please contact the Planning Development Control team if clarification is required.

If you are submitting an application online you can also pay for it online using the same form. Alternatively you can pay by cheque (made payable to 'Shropshire County Council'). Paper applications should be paid for by cheque.

General information on the constraints relevant in the area
General information on planning constraints such as flood risk, conservation areas and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be found by following the link on this page.

What happens after my application is submitted?
Submission of a planning application for minerals, waste or County Council development will trigger the following sequence of events:

• Validation Initial checks are undertaken to ensure that the application is accompanied by the required information. The validation checklists detail what information needs to be submitted with your application. We will aim to notify applicants normally within 3-5 working days of the validity of their application. For major applications, we will aim to notify applicants within 10 days.
• Registration Once an application has been validated it is given an application number and information entered onto the council's planning application database. Details of the planning application will normally be published on the Online Planning Register webpages within 5 working days of receipt of a valid application.
• Advertising A site notice is placed on the site and in the local newspaper. Nearest neighbours to the site are also normally notified of the application by letter.
• Consultation Copies of the application are sent out to selected organisations for comment. These include the District and Parish Council, the Environment Agency and consultees within the County Council. Responses to these consultations can be sent via email, online form or by letter.
• Report preparation Following receipt of consultation responses a report will be prepared. The report will assess the planning issues raised by the proposal and make a recommendation to approve or refuse the application. Officer reports are published on the Online Planning Register web pages, normally 5 days prior to the date of Planning Committee.
• Committee or delegated decision Most applications are decided by the council's Planning Committee. Depending on the type and scale of development some applications are determined by delegated powers. This is where power is conferred to designated planning officers by locally elected councillors so that the officers may take decisions on specified planning matters on behalf of the council.

The next meeting dates of the Planning Committee are: 22 April 2008, 10 June 2008, 23 July 2008 and 16 September 2008.

More detail on the above processes can be found in the attachment 'Stages in processing an application' on this page.

Appeal process
If your planning application isn't decided within a set period, is refused or is granted subject to conditions you disagree with you usually have the right of appeal. Only the applicant for the consent or permission can make an appeal. Further information on the appeals process is available from the 'Planning appeals' page via the link on this page.

Data protection notice
Shropshire County Council will use the information you provide on application forms, documents or plans for the purpose of determining the planning application and defining the proposed development. It will not be used for additional purposes without your consent. Please note that the information you provide, with the exception of personal email addresses and telephone numbers, will be published online and made available for inspection at council offices.

The information may be reproduced stored copied distributed and made available for public inspection but only in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and appropriate planning legislation as is necessary for the County Council to perform its statutory planning role.

The County Planning Authority undertakes to provide due accreditation to the applicant for any / all electronic documents submitted as attachments to a planning application where such documents are distributed or made accessible in the performance of the authority's statutory duties.