Planning (Development Management)   Building Standards

Planning (Development Management)

Service Disruption:

Responding to General/Casework Enquiries: Customers are advised that due to the high volume of electronic communications and enquiries we are currently receiving it may take longer than normal for a response to be issued to general planning and case work enquiries.

Determination of Applications: We want to advise customers that there continues to be a significant backlog in the determination of planning applications and pre-application enquiries arising from significant pressure upon the service from high customer demand and reduced availability of staff resource over an extended period of time. As a result it is currently taking longer than our usual 10 week performance target to determine ‘local’ planning applications, and to respond to enquiries. Whilst officers are working hard to address this issue, customers are advised that ‘local’ applications are currently taking an average of 16 weeks to determine. We apologise for the delay.

Where officers identify that there is a procedural barrier (e.g. requirement for submission of further supporting information) to reaching a positive determination of a planning application then they will seek to identify and communicate such matters at the earliest opportunity, and arrange for a formal extension to the statutory determination period.

Validation of new applications: The Central Validation Team are currently reviewing new applications within 13 working days from receipt (excluding the period 24th Dec – 3rd Jan).

Planning Offices:

Council offices remain closed to members of the public. Whilst as a service we are well equipped to work flexibly from home, it is anticipated that there may continue to be some disruption due to staff availability and delivery of processes which currently rely on hardcopy documentation.

Contacting the Planning (Development Management) Service:

You can help us by getting in touch through appropriate channels:

1. Viewing planning application details – please utilise Public Access. If you have problems using the online service please use the Planning Enquiries online form, or telephone 01546 605518 for assistance.
2. Submission of representations/objections/support to planning applications – please use Public Access, or submit by e-mail to the relevant area office e-mail address (see below). (Hard copy representations will still be accepted but may take longer to process).
3. General Enquiries – please use the Planning Enquiries online form, or telephone 01546 605518
4. Apply for Planning Permission – Please submit new applications using the e-Planning portal. (Hard copy applications posted to the Central Validation Team will still be accepted but may take longer to process). Correspondence relating to invalid applications should be issued by e-mail to centralvalidationteam@argyll-bute.gov.uk       
5. Pre-application Advice – general advice is available online; where input from planning officers is required then enquiries should be submit using the online form (this is a chargeable service)
6. Submission of Casework Related Documentation – submission of documentation relating to casework (supporting information, amended plans, consultation input, details pursuant to conditions etc.) should be submitted by e-mail to the relevant area office e-mail address (see above). (Documentation submitted by post or issued direct to case officers will still be accepted but may take longer to process).
7. Report an unauthorised development – please use the Planning Enforcement online form, or telephone 01546 605518

It is requested that anyone submitting documents/applications does so either via the Scottish Government ePlanning Portal or electronically to the appropriate area office detailed below:

• Bute and Cowal Area Office – planning.bandc@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Helensburgh and Lomond Area Office – planning.handl@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Office – planning.maki@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Office – planning.olandi@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Deemed Extension to Planning Permission, Planning Permission in Principle, and Listed Building Consent:

It is advised that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, the Coronvirus (Scotland)(No.2) Act 2020, and the Town and Country Planning (Emergency Period and Extended Period)(Coronavirus)(Scotland) Regulations 2020, the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021, and the Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications)(Coronavirus)(Scotland) Regulations 2022 make provisions for a deemed extension to the implementation period for a range of permissions that have, or will expire, during a defined ‘emergency period’. Details of the affected permission types, the qualifying dates (or ‘emergency period’), and expiry of any deemed ‘extended period’ during which the permission will remain live are set out in the table below. It is noted for information that the range of permissions covered, the ‘emergency period’ and the ‘extended period’ are matters defined in law by the Scottish Parliament and as such are not issues which are open to any discretion in their interpretation by the Council as Planning Authority.