On-site display of Notices
Q6. Bearing in mind that the purpose of the notice is to make people aware of the development and direct them to the appropriate contacts for further information, are you content with the level of information to be included?
35. Many responses were generally content with the level of information although there were a number of comments suggesting additional information that could be included.
36. A number of responses called for the inclusion of full lists of conditions, rather than a simple statement that there were conditions. Community groups in particular were keen that lists of conditions be included, making the point that this would both help members of the public to spot potential breaches of planning control and reduce the number of enquiries regarding the development, and conditions attached, made to planning authorities and developers. This view was supported by some local authorities, one of which noted that it would potentially save time and resources in sending out multiple copies of the planning permission. Other respondents suggested that certain conditions, for example relating to hours of operation, environmental considerations and protected species, should be listed.
37. Response from business to listing conditions was generally negative. One respondent raised concern that listing conditions would encourage members of the public to enter the site to check compliance, and that this could raise health and safety concerns. Another noted that they welcomed the requirement to display information about the development as they were keen to engage with the community. However they did not feel there was a need to include conditions, which they saw as bureaucratic and bringing little benefit to the community. The suggestion was that anyone sufficiently interested in a development as to want to know about any conditions could contact either them (the developer) or the planning authority using the information displayed on the notice.
38. Planning authorities indicated general contentment with the level of information to be displayed. On the specific issue of display of conditions, of those planning authorities which expressed a view, there were roughly equal numbers in favour of and against the display of conditions.
39. Other suggestions for inclusion included;
- Telephone and e-mail contacts for the developer/site agent
- Identifying named contact people for the developer/site agent/planning authority
- That the description of the development, address and planning consent reference number be included exactly as described in the consent
- Copy of the decision notice and/or copy of the approved plans.
- A sketch map of the site or a plan of the site boundary
- Reference to the relevant local plan and to any other policy and guidance.
40. Several responses suggested that a copy of the planning consent should be attached to the notice and one respondent suggested that there was no need for a specific notice, suggesting instead that the full planning consent should be displayed.
41. One community council response suggested that copies of the on-site notice should be sent to local councillors, community councils, tenants & residents associations and the local press.