WC starts charging for planning advice
As of Monday the 4th of April 2011, the WC Development Control Service has been charging for planning advice.
Before its abolition West Wiltshire District Council always provided such assistance free of charge, but the cash-strapped Conservative-controlled Wiltshire Council says it can't afford to do this.
Anyone querying the need for planning permission has to pay, as do applicants and agents looking at specific planning proposals.
Charges have also been introduced to cover monitoring fees for some Section 106 Agreements and periodic inspections of minerals and waste sites.
For further information about the new charges see:
There are a number of exemptions from the new charges which include : -
- Advice to parish, city, town councils and Area Boards relating to development they will commission or undertake
- Advice relating to development specifically for the benefit of disabled persons.
- Applications required following the removal of permitted development rights by planning condition or Article 4 Direction.
- Advice on playing fields and other recreational facilities for their own use sought by a non-profit making club, society or other organisations, whose objectives are to provide facilities for sport and recreation.
- Advice relating to protected trees and high hedges.
- Advice to third parties affected by development proposals.
Those exempt from being charged for advice would still have to pay for any application submitted.