Planning performance agreement
Planning performance agreements are voluntary undertakings that enable local planning authorities and applicants for planning permission to agree the timescales, actions and resources necessary to process a planning application. They are not intended to be legally-binding contracts, but are in the spirit of a ‘memorandum of understanding’.
They must be agreed before an application is submitted, and can cover the pre-application, application and post-application stages.
Planning performance agreements can be helpful in:
- Encouraging collaborative working between the applicant, the local planning authority, and third parties (where appropriate, third parties such as statutory consultees may be a party to the agreement).
- Establishing a transparent process for determining applications.
- Acting as focus for pre-application discussions.
They can be used for any application, but are particularly suited to large or complex applications. The structure of the agreement is determined by the local planning authority and the applicant, but depending on the complexity of the project may include:
- The status of the agreement.
- A shared vision.
- An agreed timetable.
- Development objectives.
- Responsibility for tasks.
- A programme for the negotiation of section 106 agreements and related non-planning consents.
- Voluntary payments to assist with any abnormal costs associated with processing the application.
Local planning authorities may charge for additional administrative work involved in the planning performance agreement.
The existence of a planning performance agreement means that the statutory time limits for determining the application no longer apply. If the local planning authority fails to determine the application by the agreed date, then the applicant may appeal, however, the agreement should be sufficiently flexible to allow for changes in circumstances.
The parties to the agreement are encouraged to make it publicly available.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Detailed planning application.
- Development management.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- National Planning Policy Framework.
- National Planning Practice Guidance.
- Neighbourhood planning.
- Outline planning application.
- Permitted development.
- Planning appeal.
- Planning authority.
- Planning conditions.
- Planning enforcement.
- Planning fees.
- Planning objection.
- Planning obligations.
- Planning permission.
- Pre-application advice.
- Section 106 agreement.
- Statutory consultees.
Featured articles and news
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.