Falkirk Council

Applicants are now encouraged to make applications online via the following Scottish Government hosted ePlanning Scotland| site. 

For applicants who prefer to submit in the normal way, various categories of Form and Guidance Notes are available on this site and applicants should use these forms as appropriate. PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE NOTES CAREFULLY.

New Categories of Application

The Regulations introduce the following new categories of application:

Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) - this replaces outline planning permission:

• as a minimum requirement no plans are needed other than a location plan identifying the application site;
• no design and access statement is required;
• "national" or "major" category applications require Pre-Application Consultation.

Applications for approval of matters specified in conditions applied to a PPP - this replaces Reserved Matters applications.

There continues to be provision for full applications for planning permission (including changes of use), further applications (to continue an unexpired permission) and applications which may be required due to conditions imposed on a planning permission. We have appropriate forms for Householder and Non-Householder development. Applications for advertisement consent, listed building consent, conservation area consent and hazardous substances consent are not affected by the new legislation.

Submission Documents and Further Information

The Regulations do not specify which supplementary documents should accompany an application beyond those specified as statutory minimum requirements for validation purposes. The Council therefore encourages applicants in pre-application discussions to establish what the Council's requirements are in terms of essential further information.

Design and Access Statements

This is a new statutory requirement for "national" and "major" applications only but does not relate to applications for planning permission in principle in these categories.

Applications for planning permission for "local" development within:

1. a World Heritage Site;
2. a conservation area;
3. a historic garden or designed landscape;
4. a National Scenic Area;
5. the site of a scheduled monument; or
6. the curtilage of a category A listed building

will require a design statement unless the development comprises the alteration or extension of an existing building.

Design and/or design and access statements are not needed for the following categories:

1. an application for planning permission for development of land without complying with conditions subject to which a previous planning permission was granted (see the paragraphs on Further Applications above);
2. an application for planning permission for -

The design of a proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings may be a material consideration.  Where a design or design and access statement is required, the information within the statement may be material and in such cases must be taken into account by the planning authority when considering the proposed development

Further information on the form and content of both types of statement are available from the Development Management Unit within Development Services.

Neighbour Notification

The responsibility for Neighbour Notification transfers to the Council in respect of applications submitted on or after 3 August 2009. Application Forms and Guidance Notes will be amended accordingly. The process of Neighbour Notification takes place as soon as possible after a valid application has been received, not before.

The Council will send out Notices to those having an interest in land coterminous with or within 20 metres of the boundary of the land for which development is proposed. Where there are no premises on this land and where the Council is unable to identify a relevant address to which notification can be sent, it will advertise this in the local press. The cost of this advertisement must under the Regulations be borne by the applicant. It would help the Council, and may avoid additional costs if applicants could supply a list of names and addresses of those with interests in neighbouring land along with their application to reduce the need for the advertisement process.

Those notified will have 21 days to make representations (14 days previously) and those who make representations to a prospective applicant under statutory pre-application arrangements may still object to the application when it is submitted.

Owner Notification by the Applicant

This is still a statutory requirement, carried out by the applicant.