Planning Permission and Applications

Pre-application advice

The Council welcomes and encourages pre-application discussions on all forms of development. The service is free for householder development, adverts, listed building and some minor commercial development. However, in order that we can provide the service to a consistent and high standard the Council has decided that a charge should be made for providing this service for most commercial developments, including new residential schemes.

Benefits of Pre-application advice
Obtaining advice on a development proposal before submitting a planning application can have the following benefits:

  • Affords an opportunity to modify proposals to ensure a smoother and quicker passage through the planning system.
  • May lead to a reduction in the time spent by professional advisors in working up a proposal.
  • Opportunity to understand the way in which an application will be assessed against planning policies and other material considerations.
  • Can identify where there is a need for further specialist advice e.g. flood risk, contamination, trees, highways etc.
  • Can provide advice on how to meet the Council’s requirements for community consultation prior to an application being submitted for planning approval.
  • May indicate where a proposal is likely to be unacceptable to the Council saving the cost of finalising the scheme and submitting the application.
  • Will provide advice to help ensure the application is complete avoiding delays in validating and determining the application.

Additional Regulatory Advice
Separate guidance on other regulatory requirements including Building Regulations can be provided upon request.

Development Team Approach
For larger developments the Council offers a Development Team Approach. The Area Planning Group will assemble a multi-disciplinary team of officers to provide comprehensive advice to assist developers through each stage of the development process from pre-application through to site construction. Further information on this service can be provided on request.

The service you will receive
On receipt of your enquiry and, where appropriate, the fee we will send you an acknowledgement letter. The letter will tell you who is dealing with your enquiry. The Planning Officer will look at your proposal and will check any previous planning history. They will also identify whether further information is required. If you would like a meeting with the planning officer this can be arranged for the appropriate fee.

You will receive a written response to your proposal setting out the planning policies and other material considerations that relate to your proposal and outlining any issues that need to be addressed. Where appropriate a list will be provided of all the information that will be required to validate a future planning application.

Timescales
In most cases we will endeavour to respond to your development proposal within 21 days. However, for major developments the process will take longer as these schemes normally require greater research and consultations with other organisations. In these cases we will agree a timetable with you for assessing your enquiry.

What we need from you
It is helpful if you can provide us with as much information as possible about your proposal. This will enable a full response to be provided on the planning merits of your scheme. As a general guide the following information should be submitted:

  • Contact details including phone number and e-mail address.
  • A description and summary of the proposal.
  • A site location plan (scale 1:1250).
  • Photographs and/or drawings showing the existing site, buildings, trees and a schedule of uses.
  • Sketch drawings showing footprint, height and scale of development and distance to site boundaries.
  • Access and parking details.
  • Larger sites or proposals may require more information. We will let you know if further details are required.
  • The fee, when required.

For householder development forms are available to help you submit the necessary information.

Information can be submitted in writing or electronically and contact details are provided at the bottom of this page.

Status of advice
All the advice given by Area Planning is provided in good faith and is based on the information provided. Advice is given without prejudice to the formal consideration of any subsequent planning application which will be subject to public consultation and be decided by the Council’s Planning Committee or under delegated powers. Any advice given will not bind the Council in the exercise of its statutory function. To this end we cannot offer any guarantee about the final outcome of a planning application. However, the advice given will be taken into account in the determination of any planning application. All pre application advice is subject to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations requests. Confidentiality cannot therefore be guaranteed.

The small print

  • The standard fee must be paid in advance of any work commencing on your enquiry.
  • Please make cheques payable to South Tyneside Council.
  • Additional charges will be invoiced within 10 working days from the date of final comment.
  • All invoices must be settled within 28 days.

Area Planning Charges from 01.04.07

TYPE OF PROPOSAL

Major development:

  • 10 residential units or more.
  • Residential development on site of 5ha or more.
  • 1000sqm of commercial floor space or more.
  • Commercial development on site of 1ha or more.
  • Scheme subject to EIA.

Charge

£300+VAT (covers one letter, site visit and meeting) + hourly rate for officer's time thereafter.

Other significant development:

  • Telecommunications development
  • Minerals or waste proposals on sites of 0.5ha or larger.

Charge

£100 per letter plus £150 per meeting +VAT + hourly rate for officer’s time thereafter.

Minor development:

  • Schemes of 1-9 dwellings.
  • Commercial development resulting in new floorspace on sites smaller than 1ha or less than 1000sqm.
  • Changes of use.

Charge

£50 per letter plus £100 for each meeting +VAT + hourly rate for officer’s time thereafter.

Householder development – Free.
Adverts – Free.
Listed buildings – Free.

Hourly rates:
Area Planning Manager £45
Team Leader £40
Deputy Team Leader £37
Planner £33

Contacts
Area Planning Group
Regeneration and Resources
South Tyneside Council
Town Hall & Civic Offices
Westoe Road
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 2RL

Tel: 0191 424 7421
E Mail: planning.enquiries@southtyneside.gov.uk

If you know someone who would like this information in a different format, please contact the Communications Unit on 0191 424 7385.