Submitting a planning application
Application forms and guidance notes can be obtained by clicking this link or by phoning 0141-287 8555. You are required to submit three sets of forms, the appropriate administration fee and four sets of detailed plans. The Council now has the responsibility to carry out neighbour notification. For applications to erect small fittings, such as satellite dishes, on buildings the Council may accept 4 photos, with an X to mark the location on the building. Fees will vary according to the type and size of development. As the preparation and lodging of development applications can be daunting for a layperson, you are strongly advised to use an agent to act for you, such as a chartered architect, planner or surveyor.
Do I need to apply for planning permission?
Planning permission is required for many types of development. In a limited number of circumstances, planning legislation allows householders and businesses to make minor changes and small extensions to their property, without planning permission. Extra controls apply within Conservation Areas and for Listed Buildings. The Council can usually advise over the telephone whether planning permission will be required for any works (Tel: 0141 287 8555). If you wish this information confirmed in writing, you will be asked to apply for a Certificate of Proposed Lawfulness, for which a fee is required. This will allow us to formally determine whether permission is required. While Planning is usually concerned with only new forms of development, changes of use and external changes to property, both internal and external alterations to buildings will often also require permission under the Building Regulations (Tel: 0141 287 5937).
How do I get planning advice?
Development plans, prepared by local authorities, set out policy guidelines for development. Planning advice provided by the City Council will be based on Glasgow City Plan 2. The standards and guidance provided in the City Plan may differ from the standards used by other local authorities. The public should always seek planning advice about local matters from their local council. The online City Plan provides guidance on appropriate policies for a range of development proposals. If you wish to receive planning advice independent of your council, you can employ the services of a planning consultant. Planning Aid Scotland (Tel: 0131 555 1565) may be able to provide free advice to private individuals.
Finding out about planning designations affecting land or property
All land within Glasgow is covered by a planning designation called a Development Policy Principle. These designations provide the broad context for considering whether or not a particular kind of development proposal is appropriate within a particular area. Development proposals will be assessed taking these designations into account, and other relevant development and design policies contained in the City Plan.
In addition, many areas of land and properties are affected by an environmental policy designation, e.g. listed buildings, conservation areas, sites of special landscape importance, tree preservation order. Part 3 of City Plan 2 contains a series of sector maps for the North, South, East, West and City Centre areas which allow you to see which designations affect land and buildings. You can view these maps at a larger scale by clicking onto ‘Maps’ in the website menu bar, and selecting the area map you wish to look at. Alternatively, you can click on ‘Site or Property Information’ in the menu bar and enter the address and/or postcode for the property to access the map and relevant information, or, if you do not know the address or postcode, select the area on the city-wide map and access the information you seek through this method of search.
Planning proposals in your neighbourhood
You can find out about development proposals in a number of ways. The Council’s Development and Regeneration Services (DRS) has a number of teams and professional officers dealing with the City and they can assist you with development enquiries. Tel: 0141 287 8555. Each week all new development applications are listed in the Weekly List. Some development applications are also advertised in the Glasgow Evening Times, Friday edition. The Council now has the duty to serve neighbour notification on surrounding properties. If you want to know more about a development application that has been lodged with the Council, you can come to the office of DRS at 229 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QU and view the application. The Council is developing a service which will facilitate being able to view this information online.
Participating in the preparation of the Local Development Plan (Glasgow City Plan)
Development plans have to be prepared by all local planning authorities to guide development and the use of land. The Scottish Government requires that development plans be reviewed on no more than a 5-year cycle. Public consultation is an important part of the plan preparation process and public participation in the preparation process gives added legitimacy to the proposals and policies contained within the plan.
In early 2010, the Council will announce the formal start of the preparation of City Plan 3 and will be seeking early consultation on issues to be considered for inclusion in the Main Issues Report for City Plan 3. A Development Plan Scheme for City Plan 3 is on the City Plan website. This sets out the Council’s intended programme for the preparation of the plan. The Development Plan Scheme has to be updated annually (in March). The Council will be aiming to adopt City Plan 3 in 2014 once it has gone through all of the necessary preparation stages.
If you have any queries about the development plan process or wish to know more about the public consultation stages, please contact the Development Plan Team on 0141 287 8614/8678. Alternatively, you can e-mail enquiries to developmentplan@glasgow.gov.uk
Obtaining a copy of the City Plan
The Plan is in four parts: Part 1 is the Development Strategy Overview (this sets out the Council’s broad vision for development for the next 20 years and three guiding and cross-cutting principles which underpin much of the strategy. Part 2 is the Development Strategy: Priorities and Proposals for four broad themes (People, Jobs, Environment and Infrastructure) and 6 Key Regeneration Areas and the Rest of the City. Part 3 is the Development and Design Policies which support the delivery of the development strategy and will be used by the Council when assessing development applications. Part 4 is the Development Guides. These provide detailed guidance for certain types development.
A printed version of City Plan 2 will be held for public consultation in the City’s public libraries and at the office of Development and Regeneration Services (DRS), 229 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QU. It will be available for sale from DRS. If you have any queries about the acquisition of City Plan 2, contact the City Plan Team on 0141 287 8540/8678. Alternatively, you can e-mail enquiries to developmentplan@glasgow.gov.uk