Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I start to think about the requirements of the
SCI
?
The
SCI
encourages
continuous community involvement at each stage of the application
process (pre-application, application and post-application). If the
proposal falls within the ‘significant’ category (Residential
schemes of 50 units or more, employment/industrial schemes of 5,000
sq m or more, retail schemes of 2,500 sq m or more and leisure
schemes of 1,000 sq m or more) it would be subject to wider
community consultation. It is at the pre-application stage that the
applicant should engage with the community and the intentions of
the applicant with regard to involvement techniques should be
agreed as part of the pre-application discussions with the planning
officer.
2. Who will be responsible for organising the pre-application
consultation?
The applicant will be responsible for organising and
resourcing the pre-application consultation. The intentions of the
applicant with regard to involvement techniques should be agreed as
part of the pre-application discussions with the planning
officer.
3. The application is for a change of use and the floor area
falls into the ‘significant’ category, will it still be subject to
wider public consultation?
Yes. The change of use of a building can have a significant
impact on an area and the community should be consulted.
4. The application is for amendments to a development which
would be regarded as ‘significant’ in the
SCI
, would
pre-application consultation be required?
This depends on the extent of the changes and the nature of
the application. If the changes are minor and do not alter the main
substance of the proposal, the Council is unlikely to require
pre-application consultation again. The planning application will
still be subject to the Council’s normal publicity procedures so
this should be sufficient. More significant amendments may require
wider consultation and this would need to be agreed with the
planning officer before the application is submitted.
5. Would pre-application consultation be required at outline
and reserved matters stage?
Yes. The requirements of the
SCI
apply to both
outline and reserved matters applications.
6. What happens with major applications which do not meet the
significant threshold?
The
SCI
encourages
pre-application consultation with the Community Boards and
Residents Associations and we would ask the applicant to notify the
relevant Community Board and Resident Association of the
application at submission stage and a copy of the application
should be provided to them on request. The Council has discretion
to reserve the right to seek wider community involvement for these
applications if they are particularly sensitive or if they will
have a significant impact on the local community.
7. The
SCI
reserves the right
to seek wider consultation for applications which are not
considered ‘significant’. How do I know if my planning application
falls within this category?
You should speak to a planning officer within the Development
Control team for a view on this.
8. Is it ok to use a consultation technique which is not set
out in the
SCI
?
Yes. The
SCI
does not aim to be
prescriptive and encourages the use of innovate techniques.
9. Where should I hold exhibitions as part of the
pre-application consultation?
Exhibitions should be held locally to the proposed development
and over a number of days and at varying times of the day to ensure
that all sections of the community are appropriately represented.
The consultation exercises should be adapted to the needs of the
target audience, for example, it may be appropriate to provide
crèche facilities, interpreters and additional facilities for
people with disabilities.
10. Can a planning officer be involved in the pre-application
consultation exercises?
Applicants should provide the local authority with reasonable
access to information relating to the pre-application consultation
to ensure that the procedures followed are in accordance with the
SCI
. The
local authority will adopt a ‘watching brief’ to ensure their
impartiality is maintained.
11. Can councillors be involved in pre-application
consultation?
Ward councillors should be encouraged to attend consultation
events but they should not give an opinion as this would prejudice
them from taking part in the planning committee.
12. There is a development brief/development guidelines for the
site, is pre-application consultation still required?
Yes. The development brief/development guidelines are normally
produced as a result of pre-application discussions with the
Council. They set out the range of adopted policies that affect the
site, together with other matters of established practice, policy
interpretation and on/off site potential. Sometimes they can be
subject to public consultation themselves (e.g. the West of
Waterlooville
MDA
masterplan). The masterplan will inform the production of the
detailed planning application which would then be subject to
community consultation by the applicant.
13. What should be submitted with the application to explain
what consultation has been carried out?
You should submit a statement with the application setting out
what community involvement has been undertaken prior to finalising
the proposals. This would include something along the lines
of:
- Consultation techniques used;
- List of consultees;
- The consultation period;
- How many representations were received;
- A summary of the main comments and how they have been addressed
in the proposal;
- Proposals for any further consultation if appropriate.
14. How will the pre-application consultation be reported to
Councillors?
Pre-application consultation will be reported in the planning
officer’s report which is available to councillors on the
Development Control Committee and members of the public.
15. What consultation arrangement are there for applications
for County Council matters?
Planning applications for minerals and waste and
County Council developments (schools, libraries, social services,
highways) will be carried out in accordance with Hampshire County
Council's Statement of Community Involvement which can be viewed by
clicking on the following link. Hampshire
County Council's Statement of Community Involvement.