Decision details

Simplify the way customers get an answer to the question 'do I need planning permission' by removing the PDQ process and signposting to self-serve and Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use (CLPU).

The Cabinet Member agrees that B&NES Planning can replace the PDQ service with further promotion of self-serve (where appropriate) and the statutory LDC type application where customers require the answer to their question of ‘do I need planning permission’, thereby simplifying the Planning service offer.

Demand for the PDQ service has halved from an average of 3 a day to less than 1.5 per day now possibly as PD legislation has become better understood by agents and the public alike since this legislation was introduced a number of years ago.

Customers can self-serve which we can encourage

There is a statutory national application which can be used instead of a PDQ and answers the same question of ‘do I need planning permission’.  Here is a comparison of the differences between PDQ and LDC:

The Planning Core Offer of non-statutory duties is as follows: Provide a Pre application advice service including Development Team; Set up Planning Performance Agreements where appropriate

Many other local authorities do not offer a PD checking service such as Bristol CC, LB Westminster, LB Waltham Forest.

That the current PDQ process could be kept and the price increased to around £90 to cover the cost of delivery which would depress demand even further in all likelihood.