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Planning Committee

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Information about Planning Committee

South Lakeland District Council is the local planning authority for all areas of South Lakeland not included within the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

 

The Planning Committee is responsible for considering those planning applications which have not been delegated to officers. It meets once a month, typically starting at 10.00 a.m. on a Thursday, in the District Council Chamber, Kendal Town Hall.

 

The Council encourages public participation at its meeting, including the Planning Committee. More information can be found on the Public Participation webpage which also outlines the procedure for meetings.

 

Planning Committee Decisions

The planning system operates to regulate the use of land in the public interest and not to protect private interests.

 

There are three possible decisions that the Planning Committee can take with regard to planning applications – approve, refuse or defer.

 

By law, decisions must be based upon planning considerations, namely:-

 

·         Development Plan policies of the Council (South Lakeland Land Allocations DPD, Core Strategy and Local Plan);

·         Central Government Guidance – The National Planning Policy Framework; and

·         Other material considerations – must be related to planning.

 

Examples of other material considerations include: loss of privacy, overshadowing, design, highway safety, traffic and parking, noise from the proposed use (not building works during construction), incompatible uses, scale of development, appearance of development, wildlife, trees, flooding and/or the effect on conservation areas and/or listed buildings.

 

Decisions cannot, however, be based upon personal issues with neighbours, loss of private views, business competition, noise or disturbance during building operations, property devaluation, private covenants, boundary disputes and/or the impact of private rights of access.

 

Appeal against a decision

As an applicant, if you are unhappy with a decision made by the Planning Committee, information on your options in appealing a decision can be found on the following page.

 

As a third party to an application there are a limited range of actions you can take.

 

South Lakeland District Council operates an internal complaints process. For more information, please contact the Planning Department and a member of staff will be able to advise you.

 

You can also complain to the Local Government Ombudsman or seek to have the High Court review the decision. These bodies will only investigate the process followed in making the decision and not the planning merits of the decision. In the case of a High Court review you should seek immediate legal advice because there are time limits to any action you can take.

 

If you have any queries about your right of appeal please contact the Planning Department and a member of staff will be able to advise you.