Changes for the planning service

The Council has now moved to a new software system for case management across the planning service. Our officers have been working with limited access to records, and some communications and decisions have been impacted during downtime prior to the system going live. The downtime began on 31 July 2025.

We appreciate your patience during this period and apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.

What does this mean for me?

Submitting a Planning Application

Applications can currently be submitted by the usual methods (electronically or in hard copy).

Applications received since the downtime began on 31 July are being checked for validity and applicants with applications deemed to be invalid are being contacted. We are not currently in a position to publish applications deemed to be valid due to continuing data checking. This extra work is taking place to ensure the information we publish is accurate.

All applications received are dealt with in the order they are received, and a member of the team will be in contact with you to let you know when this process has started; the period to determine your application once it has been confirmed as valid will not be affected.

Please note, there is currently a high demand on our officers, but we will aim to be in contact with you no later than the week commencing 1 September 2025.

Requesting Pre-Application Advice

Our non-statutory Pre-Application Advice service will be paused whereby no new enquiries will be processed in August as we make this change. Pre-application enquiries will be resumed from Monday 1 September.

Reporting a Planning Enforcement Issue

Please report Planning Enforcement issues using our online form or by emailing planningcompliance@havant.gov.uk. Our investigations will continue as usual although a small proportion of cases may be delayed.

Commenting on a Planning Application

If you are a member of the public, you can see existing planning applications on our Public Access website (correct as of 31 July 2025) but there is currently no ability for you to comment via the website.

If you wish to comment on an application, you may email us at planning.development@havant.gov.uk – clearly specifying the application reference and address and giving your name and contact details. Your comments will be passed to the case officer in the first instance, and will additionally be held in a queue and uploaded to the public record on our website once the new system is online - this is expected to be in the week commencing 25 August 2025.

We will also accept written comments posted or handed into the Council offices which will be treated in the same manner.

Where applications are registered on our website prior to the 31 July, the closing deadlines for comments will still be upheld.

For applications validated after 1 August and registered on our website via the new system, the period allowed for comment will reflect the delay in making the information available online.

Applicants and Planning Agents

Officers are continuing to work on your applications. However, in light of recent revised working arrangements in place during the system crossover decisions due over this period will be delayed, for which we apologise.

Consultees and Councillors

Access to existing planning application records is available on the Public Access website but there is no ability for you to comment via the website.

Any consultation responses or comments should be sent to planning.development@havant.gov.uk and copied to the responsible Planning Officer.

Please clearly specify the application reference and address, provide your name and contact details. Your comments will be passed to the case officer in the first instance, and will additionally be held in a queue and uploaded to the public record on our website - this is expected to be in the week commencing 25 August 2025.

Written comments posted or handed into the Council offices will be accepted and treated in the same manner.