Planning guarantee
The term ‘planning guarantee’ refers to the Government policy that no planning application should spend more than a year with decision-makers, including any appeal.
This means that planning applications themselves should be decided in no more than 26 weeks, allowing for a further 26 weeks to for any appeal. This should only be exceeded following a written agreement with the applicant, setting out the timescale within which a decision is expected.
This is in addition to the statutory time limits which set targets for planning authorities determine planning applications:
- Within 13 weeks for applications for major development.
- Within eight weeks for all other types of development (unless an application is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment, in which case a 16 week limit applies).
If a valid application is not determined within the statutory period (or such other period as has been agreed) the applicant has a right to appeal to the Secretary of State against non-determination.
If the applicant does not exercised this right of appeal, and the application remains undetermined after 26 weeks, then the fee will be refunded.
Where planning authorities are designated as not adequately performing their function of determining applications, major development may be submitted directly to the Secretary of State. See Special measures designation for under-performing planning authorities for more information.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
What they are, how they work and why they are popular in many countries.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.