Following positive feedback from clients regarding successful Permission in Principle applications, the planning team at Strutt & Parker wish the share the opportunities that a PiP application can in some instances offer as an alternative to a planning application with significantly reduced cost.
What is Permission in Principle (PiP)?
It is an alternative way of obtaining planning permission for housing-led development on small scale greenfield sites. It separates the consideration of matters of principle for a proposed development from the technical detail of the development. It was introduced alongside the requirement for Local Planning Authorities to keep Brownfield Registers, where the PiP was primarily aimed at bringing forward major brownfield sites. However, a PiP application can now also apply to Greenfield sites for a housing scheme of up to nine residential units or less, on a site of less than 1 hectare.
The PiP process contains two stages:
Stage 1: Establishes whether the site is suitable in principle. At this stage the Local Planning Authority can approve or refuse the principle of development on three main issues; the amount of development; location of development; and the type of development. There is no need to submit any architectural plans or assessments/surveys for this first stage.
Stage 2: The approval of Stage 1 will enable the next phase called Technical Details Consent (TDC): To obtain full permission, the site must receive a grant of TDC before development can proceed. The technical documents include detailed plans and site specific assessments such highway access, flood risk, ecology and/or heritage. The granting of technical details consent has the effect of granting planning permission for the development.
Key Points:
- Application Fee: £402 per 0.1 Hectare
- Right of Appeal
- 5 Weeks for decision
- In Stage 1, only Four documents make up a Pip application; a Cover Letter, Application Form, Planning Statement and Site Location Plan.
The advantage of PiP applications is that they can be used to determine the principle of development without spending comparatively large amounts of money to meet normal validation requirements for outline or full planning applications.
For more information, please contact David Fletcher (Planning), Shannon Hubbard (Planning) or Adam Davies (Planning).