• All planning documents should be clearly named, with names that are relevant to the planning application.
• Planning documents will need to be clearly viewable on a 17" screen at a resolution that is not greater than 1024 x 768.
• Planning documents should be submitted electronically in Portable Document Format (PDF) and the file size should be kept to a minimum without adversely affecting quality.
• No single PDF is to exceed 5 MB. Where the limit is exceeded, the file should be split into multiple files, or compressed so as not to exceed the limit.
• Ideally images should be labelled.
• Information on how to create accessible PDF files can be found on the Adobe website
• Scanned documents should have Optical Character Recognition (OCR) applied to them to produce searchable textual content.
• PDF documents should include navigational and organisational aids, such as a table of contents, bookmarks and useful headings.

Electronic planning documents should not have security applied (i.e. passwords) to prevent copying or editing, so that they can be published directly onto the council's website.

The link below will take you to an online service that allows you to view details of planning applications being considered by the Central Bedfordshire Council, including the ability to monitor the progress of a planning application, view documents relating to planning applications and submit comments on application to us. This information is updated daily.

Disclaimer 
Central Bedfordshire Council seeks to ensure that the information it publishes on its web sites is up to date and accurate. However, the information on these web sites does not constitute legal or professional advice and the Council cannot accept any liability for any loss arising in any way whatsoever out of the use of its sites. The Council cannot be held responsible for the data policies, procedures or contents of any other web sites referenced by or linked to from its own web sites.

Copyright Notice
Plans, drawings and material submitted to the Council are protected by the Copyrights Act (Section 47, 1988 Act). You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed for consultation purposes, to compare current applications with previous schemes and to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans. Further copies must not be made without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Viewing plans and other documents
This service includes the ability to view related documentation such as application forms, site plans, drawings, decision notices and other relevant papers for planning applications.

Commenting on planning applications
We can only take into account issues that are proper planning matters.  Generally the main ones are as follows: Amenity (impact on neighbours), Design, Highways, Policies, History.
Issues that normally wouldn't be taken into account: Personal circumstances, Whether the applicant or landowner is known/unknown, liked/disliked etc, The right to a view over another person’s land.  How to make a comment on a planning application - procedure (PDF 316KB)  

By clicking on this link you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions

Use the link further below on this page to view details of planning applications, including; planning application forms; plans and supporting statements; currently being considered by the Council; and decision notices.

This information is updated daily.

In order to view these planning documents you must agree to the copyright notice below, by clicking on the link further below.

This will take you to our search guidelines which will assist you in finding the information you require. (Please note that not all documents are available online. Some of our files are either still in paper format or have previously been transferred onto microfiche. If you cannot find the information you require please telephone 0300 300 8307 and arrangements can be made for you to view the information at one of our offices)

You will need Adobe acrobat viewer in order to be able to view associated documents. This can be downloaded free of charge from the adobe website.

It is important that you realise that plans, drawing and material submitted to the Council are protected by the Copyrights Act (Section 47, 1988 Act). You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed for consultation purposes, to compare current applications with previous schemes and to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans. Further copies must not be made without prior permission of the copyright owner. By clicking on the link below, you agree to abide by this copyright notice before being able to view any documents:

I agree to abide by the copyright notice above

Representations are welcomed from interested parties on any current planning application.  If you want to comment on a planning application you should do so in writing, to the address below. 

Assistant Director Development Management
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Beds SG17 5TQ.

ALL comments are ALWAYS taken into account.  We may not always be able to make a decision which supports your comments, but we will always take note of them. Occasionally comments made can be deemed to be offensive in some way - in such instances you will be given an opportunity to revise your submission

What sort of thing can I comment on?

We can only take into account issues that are proper planning matters.  Generally the main ones are as follows: 

• Amenity – impact on neighbours – overlooking, loss of daylight, overbearing impact, noise and disturbance, pollution etc.
• Design - impact on building, site, street scene etc.  Is it in keeping with the surrounding area.
• Highways – suitability of access, parking, manoeuvring space, effect of traffic generation.
• Policies – are there any government policies or policies in the Local Development Framework which are relevant.
• History – any previous permissions on the site or nearby.

We also consult a wide range of other bodies, both internal to the council and external, for more specialist advice which will include highways, drainage, nature conservation and pollution.

The function of the Highway Development Control Team is primarily to ensure that new development within Central Bedfordshire comply with highway design and safety policies and standards as laid down by central and local government.

The council is highway authority for non-trunk roads in the area. In this capacity the Highway Development Control team, as a consultee of the local planning authority, makes recommendations on planning applications, and comments on the suitability of sites proposed for inclusion in Forward Plans.

As part of assessing suitability of development proposals the team is responsible for securing funding of off-site highway infrastructure improvements as well as traffic calming, foot/cycleway provision and public transport services.

Road adoptions

The adoption of a road is also the responsibility of the Highway Development Control Team.

For a road to be adopted it must meet specific standards. Details of these standards are available in our Highway Design Guide and General Specification Aid. Copies of the Design Guide are currently free as it is in the process of being updated. The General Specification Aid is available to purchase at a cost of £5.00.

The layout and construction specification must be agreed with the Highway Development Control team before construction begins on any road that will later be offered for adoption. The developer will have to enter into an agreement under Section 38 of the Highways Act in order to eventually get the road adopted. A bond is required under this agreement to cover the authority in the event of any default on the part of the developer.  The bond value is based on, but higher than, the value of the highway works.  A fee of 7.5% of the bond value is normally required to cover technical approval and inspection costs. If a developer begins work on the road before an agreement is in place then this fee is 10% of the bond value.

A fee to cover the legal costs in preparing the agreement is also required.

When is a Design and Access Statement required?

On 6 April 2010, the Government expanded the range of development that is exempt from the requirement for a design and access statement. The list below confirms the new requirements from 6 April 2010, and relates the various scenarios to the submission of on line planning applications via the Planning Portal.

Design and access statements will be required for all planning applications except for:

• A material change of use of land or a building unless it also involves operational development.
• Engineering or mining operations
• Householder development not involving a conservation area or listed building.
• Applications for advertisement consent, tree preservation orders, or storage of hazardous materials.
• Applications to remove or vary conditions attached to existing planning permissions.
• Extensions of time limit for existing planning permissions.
• Applications for walls, gates, fences and other means of enclosure up to 2m in height (where these do require planning permission).
• Applications on operational land for buildings or structures up to 100 cubic metres or 15m in height, whichever is the greater.
• Erection, alteration or replacement of plant or  machinery, up to 15m above ground level, or up to the height of the existing plant or machinery whichever is the greater.

If your site is within a World Heritage Site, Conservation Area, or involves a Listed Building, a Design and Access Statement will be required.

The design and access statement changes are explained in the Government guidance, Guidance on information requirements and validation, published 16 March 2010. Users of the Portal will also be able to access DAS information from the site.

We want to deliver the best possible service to you that we can, and therefore, as part of our drive to continuously monitor and improve our service to our customers, we'd like to hear about your experience and thoughts on our service. Customers are invited to complete the customer satisfaction survey at time of planning application decision.

• Do the customer satisfaction survey