Southwark Planning Applications

[damzel]

Does anyone know how long it takes for Southwark to upload planning applications? And whether they upload all of them or just some? Ours was submitted over a month ago and there's no sign of it, starting to get tetchy that it won't be approved before the work is scheduled to start.

I'm referring to this search tool http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/

[craigy]

Ours took a couple of weeks after the date it was ment to and took a lot of chasing up from us and the architect. Sorry, cannot remember the actual time frame but it ran pretty close to the start date.

[damzel]

Are you referring to the approval date or the date it was uploaded to the website? I would just feel happier if I could see it. At the moment I'm wondering if they've actually received it from my builder

[craigy]

Ahh, i see what you mean now. Ours could always be seen on the website and it gave consultation dates and decision dates and we heard nothing after the decision date so that is when we started chasing it up. Have you got the notification outside of the property as that would indicate they had received it.

[damzel]

No, but it was submitted by my builder so maybe it would be sent to him. Should we be expecting some sort of notification of receipt from them then? Did yours appear on the website shortly after sending it in?

[Green and Teggin]

Hi Damzel

I recommend you chase them. I submit quite a few planning applications and you'd be surprised how many go astray. Validation should take no longer than 10 days, and you should receive Confirmation of Validation, although as you say, this could have gone to your builder. The 8 week determination period starts from the time they received the application. However, if they find something missing (and this can be as small as a single street name missed off a location plan) then they will make your application invalid and it will not be validated until the missing information is received.

Following the recent cuts, the admin team number has gone dead, as has the duty planning line, so I suggest you call Alison Brittain on 0207 525 5427 (sorry Alison if you now get inundated with calls). She rarely answers her phone, but she does call back.

Good luck

Jacqueline

[Peckham native]

It should be up on the portal by now if submitted a month ago. Phone planning admin on 020 7525 5403 or the duty planner on 0207 525 5438 or email planning.enquiries@southwark.gov.uk. The duty planner is available 10am to 4pm, think the admin times are about the same. Both numbers were working yesterday!

[caz]

If you don't get any joy from phoning you could go to the One Stop Shop which is part of The Cuming Museum Walworth Rd.They have a duty planner that you can speak to in person. It's not open everyday ,can't rememember which days.

[James Barber]

If anyone has problems ask your councillor to help find out what is going on.

The process should work smoothly if you've submitted all the right documentation and drawings.

[damzel]

Thanks everyone. I'm a bit concerned now! No answer from the phone numbers but have emailed so will hopefully get a reply soon

[DishandtheSpoon]

Hi

Just a quick add on as I have a planning application in myself at the moment, the duty planner service that Caz mentions, at the Cuming Museum has been stopped. I was able to use it in around May time, and it was brilliant being able to sit down with a planner and gain from his experience, I tried to go again in August to be told it had been cut, and now there is no way of getting any planning advice pre application. The fact this information was still on Southwarks website was annoying as I had a totally wasted trip. In the end I did it all myself, had it rejected on one point, not outlining the building in red on the site plan, then that was resubmitted. But I have found the admin woeful. You struggle to get anyone on the phone and when you do they arent very forthcoming. But I suppose we have to remember the volume of applications they deal with. I'd be concerned if you cant see your application on line by now though. Worth a chase.

Shona

[damzel]

I emailed them on the address above (thanks Peckham native) and they responded almost straightaway. Application received but invalid. Builder seems to think it's because the plans are submitted online but the payment has to be submitted by post and often the planning office don't tally the things up so mark the application as invalid.