Planning permission – factors to consider before submitting your application

Your neighbours

Once your application has been registered it will be publicised and the views of adjoining, residents and interested parties sought. The extent of consultation is determined by the impact the application will have on its surroundings. Publication will normally take the form of letters to adjoining residents and inclusion on a weekly list of applications, which will be made available on the Council’s website. The application, including plans and drawings will also be made available online (Viewing Planning Applications Online).
Further information on neighbour issues is available from the Planning Portal.

Design

Certain types of planning application will require the submission of a Design and Access Statement. If you fail to submit a Design and Access Statement, your application will be treated as invalid and will not be processed, resulting in delays in dealing with your application.

Covenants

Other restrictions, may apply to a property, such as covenants, which will need to be taken into account before applying for or implementing a planning consent. Such restrictions fall outside the remit of the Local Planning Authority. Furthermore, The Council has no involvement in checking or enforcing your private rights such as a "right to light".

Listed buildings

If you want to carry out works to demolish, alter or extend a Listed Building you will need to apply for Listed Building Consent.
Further information is available on the Council’s Listed Buildings page.
Download a Listed Building Consent application form
Submit an Online Listed Building Consent application using the Planning Portal
Other useful links:
- English Heritage guidance notes

Conservation areas

Additional restrictions apply for development within a Conservation Area. Visit the Conservation page for further information.
Download a Conservation Area Consent form
Submit an Online Conservation Area Consent application using the Planning Portal

Tree Preservation Orders

The Council has a duty under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 to make preservation orders in the interests of preserving the amenity of its area. Orders are made in respect of single trees, groups of trees, or areas of trees such as woodlands. The orders identify the trees on an ordnance survey plan, and in the case of individual specimens the order will include details of the species and dimensions.
Visit the Tree Preservation Orders Tree Preservation Orders page for further information.
Download an Application form for works to trees
Submit an Online application for works to protected trees using the Planning Portal
Further information may be found here:
- Tree homepage
- Mapping Online in Enfield (MOLE)

Nature and wildlife

When dealing with planning applications that fall within areas designated as habitats for protected species the Local Planning Authourity will take this into account when considering the application. More information may be obtained from English Nature.

Building regulations

When applying for planning consent or seeking to implement a planning permission you are advised to contact Building Control to ascertain whether consent is also required under the Building Regulations.
Other useful links:
Differences between Planning and Building Control legislation
Building Control Home Page
Online Submission of Building control Applications

Rights of way

Should your proposed development obstruct a public path which crosses your property, you are advised to discuss the proposals with the Council at an early stage. Further information may be obtained from the Public Rights of Way page

Ancient monuments

Many important sites and structures of archaeological interest are identified and protected through the statutory schedule of ancient monuments. These are monuments of national importance.
Further information is available on the Council’s Listed Buildings page.

Environmental health

Visit the Environmental Health page for information on environmental regulations, including pollution control, food safety and public health.

Licensed sites

Caravan sites (unless exempt), premises selling alcohol, and some other public entertainment venues are subject to special licensing arrangements, in addition to other permissions they may require.
For more information visit the Licensing and the Online Licensing Register pages.

Roads and highways

If roads or highways are affected during or after construction work you are advised to contact the local highway authority.
Further information visit the Roads and Highways page.
Other useful links:
Road closures and diversions
Road closures permission

Flood Risk

Local Planning Authorities must ensure that flood risk is taken into account as part of the planning process for all new developments so as to reduce the risk of flooding and the damage it causes.
A flood risk assessment is required if the development falls within an Indicative Flood Plain or 'Flood Zone'. Planning Policy Guidance 25: 'Development and Flood Risk' provides comprehensive guidance for applicants in relation to the undertaking of flood risk assessments and the responsibilities for controlling development where it may be directly affected by flooding or affect flooding elsewhere.
Further information:
Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPG25)

Flood Risk Assessment

You can check to see whether your property, or one you are interested in buying, is listed as being prone to flooding. The Environment Agency maintain this data and you can search online, by postcode, from their website.

Contaminated Land

The planning system has a key role to play in addressing the problem of land contamination. The risks associated with contaminated land are a material planning consideration and are addressed by the planning authority in the preparation of development plans and in the determination of planning applications.
Further information:
Pollution Control - Contaminated Land
Contaminated Land Guide to Developers

Areas of outstanding natural beauty

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are areas of high landscape quality designated by the Countryside Agency under the terms of section 87 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.  Their purpose is the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty, which includes the protection of flora, fauna, geology and the landscape.  In landscape terms AONBs are considered to have equal status to the National Parks.
There are 40 AONBs.  35 of them are in England, 4 in Wales and one partly in each.  The English AONBs have a total area of 20,393km² which represents about 15% of the country.
Enfield does not currently have any areas designated under this legislation.
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Article 4 directions

To strengthen control in respect of any particularly important features in a Conservation Area that might otherwise be lost or degraded by unsympathetic permitted development, the Council can make a Direction to withdraw permitted development rights for specified works. This means that a planning application would first be required before a property owner could undertake those works.
Note that planning applications submitted because Permitted Develoment rights have been withdrawn by an Article 4 Direction are exempt the normal plannning application fee.
For furher information Article 4 Directions
Other useful links:
Mapping Online in Enfield (MOLE)

Article 3 restrictions on permitted development rights

For certain categories of development the Local Planning Authority must refer the planning application to Mayor for London.
For further information:
Mayor for London
The Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2000
Criteria for referral to the Mayor for London

This document was last updated on 2009-04-09 10:28:30 published by the Planning team. Document Reference:LBE_128328