Role of development control

The main activities of the development control include:

• dealing with all aspects of planning applications, including pre-application discussions, registration, assessment, reporting to Committees, issue of decisions, appeals and enforcement
• producing development briefs and supplementary planning guidance notes
• answering all planning questions on local land charges searches.

Control of development

Wolverhampton City Council is the local planning authority. The Council has legal powers to control most forms of development, whether new buildings or significant changes of use to existing buildings.

Most development needs planning permission. 'Development' is defined as:

'the carrying out of building, engineering, mining, or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings other land.'

Certain minor developments like small house extensions or some changes of use are exempt however, it's always advisable to seek advice from Development Control on whether or not planning permission is required for any proposal.

If a Listed Building is involved, separate Listed Buildings consent is required for works which significantly alter it, internally or externally, or demolish it.

In a Conservation Area, much demolition work requires Conservation Area Consent, even though it may well not need planning permission. Carrying out works which need these types of consent without first obtaining it is a criminal offence.

Advertising also needs specific consent, although some may be displayed without it. Check with Development Control for advice.

Best Value Improvement Plan

In April 2003 the City Council approved the Best Value Improvement Plan for Planning Services 2003-06. The Development Control Service has been restructured as part of this plan in order to enhance performance and ensure:

• the three key elements of the service – Applications, Enforcement and Technical/IT Support – are structured in a way that will assist performance management
• a City-wide approach to different types of application to secure improved consistency in decision making and a single point of contact for customers
• major applications are closely monitored to improve quality of outcome and speed of determination, and that Officers are more easily identified for specific projects

The Development Control Service shall continue to implement the actions identified in the Improvement Plan over the next 3 years.