Planning application process improved to help tackle the climate emergency and plan for a greener future
The planning application process has been updated by the Forest of Dean District Council to ensure any new applications better consider the local environment and biodiversity of their area; while also making the process more user-friendly for residents.
Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, Councillor Tim Gwilliam, said:
“Since taking the lead on Planning for the Local Plan Development, I have spent a great deal of time alongside officers talking to Parish councils, developers and members of the public about the issues that they see as being really important to address."
“Changing our planning checklists and improving our guidance will make the process of submitting applications a more positive experience for applicants across the district; improving the likelihood of applications being validated first time. However, what is more significant is the changes that will impact the environment.”
“We’re serious about tackling the climate emergency here in the Forest; so, embedding further safeguards of our local environment and biodiversity into our planning process is a step I’m very happy to see.”
“These changes will include everything from small applications all the way through to larger housing developments. Showing that, as a council, we are committed to protecting our environment and making this change will enable the forest to develop sustainably into the future.”
The changes, which came into effect on the 1st of February, impact the Validation Checklists; which outline the information required by applicants so that their planning submission can be considered ‘valid’ by the council. There are various documents that are required by law to accompany a planning application; so ensuring these checklists are as clear as possible is vital.
A review showed that some 40% of applications were not validated because of missing or inadequate information. Therefore, by changing these checklists it’s hoped applicants will be more successful in their provision of the correct information, saving them time and resources.
In addition to this, there’ll also be new requirements implemented that mean applications will have to consider the impact they are having on local biodiversity and the environment. Meaning, aspects such as sewage disposal and air quality will now need to be assessed. This aims to bring the process in line with the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency.
We anticipate that applications will come to us with correct supporting documents. However, we will advise and guide applicants during a short period of transition, as the new validation checklists become more familiar.
The updated validation checklists can be found on our website here - https://www.fdean.gov.uk/validationchecklists