General guidance and advice on planning matters, useful if you're a planning agent
Planning agent guidance
There are a number of considerations that you may need to make when submitting a planning application. These include drainage, protected species and crime prevention. Further information about these considerations is outlined below.
Protected species
Natural England has issued standing advice for planning applications, which may affect protected species in the East of England region. The aim of the standing advice is:
- to assist local planning authorities in the protection of species
- streamline the determination process
- secure the best outcomes for the natural environment
- Natural England guidance assessment on the impacts of minor developments to the Breckland SPA - Letter
- Natural England guidance assessment on the impacts of minor developments to the Breckland SPA - Annex A
- Small scale development guidance technical note - Annex B
This advice
- will replace individual consultation responses for applications
- should result in fewer objections and appeals against non-determination or refusal.
For further information on protected species please see the GOV.UK website.
Crime prevention
Secured by Design is a Police flagship initiative combining the principles of designing out crime with physical security. There can be material considerations in determining planning applications. They:
- focus on crime prevention at the design, layout and construction stages of development
- advice on security
- advice on the impact of development proposals
For further information please visit the Secured by Design website.
Designs for crime and disorder prevention are also available from the Architectural Liaison Officer:
- phone 01553 665037
- email ArchitecturalLiaison@norfolk.pnn.police.uk
Affordable housing contributions
Qualifying residential development must contribute to the provision of new affordable housing in the local authority area to help address the housing need in the area. For further information please view our Guidance on affordable housing contributions booklet, and our affordable housing website page.
Coastal Concordat for England
We have adopted the principles of the Coastal Concordat for England.
This agreement aims to:
- improve the coordination of the consenting process for coastal development in England
- set out key principles which marine regulators and advisors and estuarine/coastal planning authorities will follow when working together to enable coastal development in England
- reduce unnecessary regulatory duplication
- provide better sign-posting
- streamline assessments
- increase transparency
- give consistent advice
It has been adopted by:
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
- Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- Department for Transport
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Local Government Association's Coastal Special Interest Group
- Authorities in estuarine and coastal areas
- National Parks England
You can find out more on A coastal concordat for England: GOV.UK
Further information
There are other sources of information that may be useful to you as a planning agent. They are: