Planning applications for all developments including additions, alterations and change of use to properties and land within Publow with Pensford Parish are the responsibility of Bath & North East Somerset Council. The District council publishes all current Planning Applications on their web portal here.
Publow with Pensford Parish Council is a statutory consultee and we can review, discuss, and comment on local development proposals, but the Parish Council cannot approve or deny planning applications.
The Parish Council will consider current planning applications we receive at the monthly Parish Council meeting. A list of the planning applications scheduled to be discussed will be listed in the meeting agenda that is published on the Parish Council noticeboards by the Wednesday prior to the Parish Council meeting which is normally the second Monday in each month. Agendas are also published on the Parish Council website.
Residents are welcome to come along to the Public Session of our Parish Council meetings to discuss planning applications on the agenda with councillors, or they can email their support or objections to an application to the Parish Council before the meeting starts. As Bath & North East Somerset Council is the planning authority, it is also important that members of the public submit their comments about planning applications to them. For further information read more here.
When the Parish Council receives a planning application, we have 21 days to respond. It is sometimes possible to request a short extension to allow an application to be discussed at a forthcoming meeting, but granting this is at the discretion of the District Council’s Planning Officer.
The Parish Council will consider each application on its own individual merit. Amongst other things, Councillors will generally use, as a guide, national and local planning law, the Neighbourhood Plan, any impact on the green belt, conservation areas, historic or listed buildings etc. It would also consider compatibility with structure and design features in the local area such as building style, history, surroundings, safe connectivity to local roads, paths, and utility networks as well as safety considerations, meeting local building regulations and codes and obtaining official permissions.
If an application could impact other people they are welcome to come along to discuss the application with councillors during the Public Session of the relevant Parish Council meeting. This gives councillors the opportunity to find out more about the application and how neighbouring residents feel about it.
After the Parish Councillors have looked at the planning application a decision is made to recommend approval or to object to an application.
The Parish Council’s recommendations and any comments are sent by the Parish Clerk to Bath & North Somerset Council Planning Officers who would normally make the final decision (except in some specific circumstances where the decision is referred to the District Council’s Planning Committee).
Bath & North East Somerset Council will send decision notices for all planning applications to the Parish Clerk and these will be reported at the first available Parish Council meeting.
If you have any enquiries about Planning Applications, please contact the Parish Clerk or speak to one of your parish councillors. Please note our clerk works part-time and will respond as soon as she can.