The following links will take you to current or recently determined planning applications which are of major importance or wider significance. Some may be ones which have been mentioned in press releases or been discussed in the media. If the one you are interested in is not mentioned, view our search database.

The District Council has recently received a number of new large scale applications. These are:

Lewiston Mill

• S.11/0051/FUL

Restoration of existing historic buildings for residential and employment use. Demolition of 1950s industrial buildings, bike shed and car port, construction of new dwellings and car parks. A decision has been delayed by further consultation on the flood risk and mitigation measures. A decision is due in April 2012 provided details on viability have been provided.

Cashes Green Hospital

• S.11/0798/FUL

Erection of 78 dwellings, open space, allotment building and ancillary works.

This application has a resolution to approve subject to the signing of the Section 106 agreements. There were legal issues relating to the final freehold of the land being vested in the Community Land Trust, however these are been resolved and the decision notice issued.

Brimscombe Port
This application is on hold whilst a development partner is appointed. Development Control Committee has resolved to accept the change of use from employment to mixed use.

Sellars Farm Hardwick
This outline application for around 200 dwellings was refused by Development Control Committee for the following policy reasons – PPS 23, PPS 25, GE5, H2 and H10. This decision has been appealed and we await the result.

Box Road – Cam – Hallam Land Management
This application was refused planning permission and is currently awaiting the result of the appeal.

Chestnut Park – Kingswood
At the November meeting of the Development Control Committee, members resolved to permit 27 homes within the development boundary of Kingswood on the condition that £10,000 be made available to the village hall. The Local MP, Mr Clifton-Brown has been involved in the community negotiations, chairing a number of round table discussions. View further details. The decision notice was issued on Wednesday 18 January 2012 after the signing of the section 106 agreement. The Council has been informed that the appeal on the fist scheme has been postponed.

It is understood that the applicants are working on discharging the conditions and have started some preparation works on site.

Wind Turbine North Of Sharpness Docks
An application has been submitted for a single 122 m high wind turbine at land north of Sharpness docks. The case reference is S.11/2448/FUL

Woolaway properties at Minchinhampton
An application has been received for the demolition of 40 'Woolaway' properties, and the erection of 66 two storey properties at Land Off Cirencester Road, The Tynings And Old Common Minchinhampton. This application was presented to the Development Control Committee on the 14 February 2012 and was permitted. S.11/2432/FUL

At the September Council meeting, councillors voted to introduce public speaking at Development Control Committee (DCC). Approximately 1 in 20 applications are referred to DCC, predominantly those which are of major importance or have wider significance beyond their neighbourhood. The first meeting to include Public Speaking was that of the 8 November 2011.

At the beginning of each item, the Ward Cllr(s), a representative of the parish, those who oppose the scheme and those who support the project are allowed to make a statement to the Committee. This is not be an opportunity to introduce new evidence, but rather an ability to emphasis issues raised in written submissions already in the public domain. Each of the four slots will have a maximum of 3 minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak in any of the slots, the speakers are encouraged to appoint a spokesman to “speak for all” else the 3 minutes will be split equally.

On the 27 th March 2012, the coalition government issued the new National Planning Policy Framework. The framework comes into effect immediately and becomes the basis of all planning permission from that day. A copy of the NPPF can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2113371.pdf

All planning authorities will need time to absorb the changes, however, for the householder and minor applications, very little will change.

• S.10/1638/FUL

At the Development Control Committee on the 12th April, Councillors voted 7 - 2 to refuse the application for 4 wind turbines near Stinchcombe in the Berkeley Vale. Members thanked the officers for their hard work, but felt, on balance, that refusal on landscape grounds was warranted. Should the applicant appeal, it is likely that the parish and 'Save Berkeley Vale' would be asked to join the Council in defending the refusal.

The appeal hearing commenced at 10:00am on Tuesday the 10th January 2012, and was adjourned on Friday the 13th January. The Appeal reconvened on the 26 th March, however, due to inability to get all parties together again, is not likely to conclude until September 2012.

Towards the end of 2010, the Department for Communities and Local Government (a branch of Government) issued a consultation document on planning fees. View a Press release from Greg Clark MP. Mr. Clark states "Having a system where Whitehall dictates to local councils what planning fees they can charge is very unfair for local taxpayers around the country who are left paying for the shortfall where fees don't cover costs…Letting councils set their own fees is a much fairer system for both the applicant and the local taxpayer and will ensure there is flexibility in the system to recover the actual costs of applications."

It is understood that Councils will have to set their own fees before 1 October 2011, with new legislation coming into force this spring. Nationally it is estimated that the costs of running a planning service are 50% funded from income, and 50% from Council Tax. Not all of what planners do is directly related to a particular planning application, and as such there will still be a residual cost to the local tax payer, though this could be greatly reduced under these proposals.

A problem with getting Parliamentary time has delayed the Coalition Government's plans to introduce these changes by 1st October 2011. It is most likely that these changes will now be introduced in the next financial year (2012/13)

At the September Council meeting, councillors voted to introduce public speaking at Development Control Committee (DCC). Approximately 1 in 20 applications are referred to DCC, predominantly those which are of major importance or have wider significance beyond their neighbourhood. The first meeting to include Public Speaking was that of the 8 November 2011.

At the beginning of each item, the Ward Cllr(s), a representative of the parish, those who oppose the scheme and those who support the project are allowed to make a statement to the Committee. This is not be an opportunity to introduce new evidence, but rather an ability to emphasis issues raised in written submissions already in the public domain. Each of the four slots will have a maximum of 3 minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak in any of the slots, the speakers are encouraged to appoint a spokesman to “speak for all” else the 3 minutes will be split equally.

We operate a simple appointment system for future applicants who would like to speak to a planning officer. This is limited at busy times to 15 minutes. To arrange an appointment please email us or telephone 01453 754442. You will need to forward us as much detail as you can, so we can make the most of the time available. As a minimum we would need you to send us a site location plan, sketch drawings and an idea of what you are considering. If possible photographs of the site and its access would be beneficial. These should be sent at least 48 hrs before the appointment.

Currently pre-application advice is free, however, with the changes to the way the planning service is funded by Whitehall, this is under review.

About 1 in 20 applications go before the Development Control Committee. These are usually those which are either large scale or contentious. Requests for applications to go to the committee must be made by a district councillor. To see what has been to committee and what is scheduled for the next meeting, please view our democracy section.