Planning Performance Agreement Charter

Responsibilities under the charter

For Planning Performance Agreements to work successfully, responsibility rests with both the council and the developer.

Our responsibilities/commitments

When a proposal is accepted a case officer will be identified alongside the best possible development team reflecting the nature of each individual project. This will be a council officer with experience of complex and major application development schemes.

The council will:

  • arrange an inception meeting bringing together the council and Developer Project Teams to discuss issues, agree the vision and objectives for the development and determine the project management mechanisms
  • provide details of what further information may be required
  • arrange further meetings involving the development team in a timely manner including site visit if required
  • agree a project plan for each project with the developer, setting out the key stages and milestones of the process
  • advise on the requirements for both internal and external consultation including involvement of the public and local councillors in accordance with an agreed Consultation Strategy
  • consult with local councillors, any Parish council and key resident groups, and other interested parties where appropriate
  • work corporately bringing together cross-departmental responses and inputs in a timely manner and provide access to specialist council resources such as drainage or archaeology
  • regularly review the programme and provide feedback so that any revisions can be made
  • early identification of a key issues list to be addressed in any planning application
  • provide a definitive validation checklist to avoid registration delays
  • provide details of heads of terms to be included in any section 106/278 agreements
  • ensure councillors are openly engaged with the project (through an appropriate mechanism to be agreed which may include the use of ‘position papers’ or ‘pre-application presentations’ when required)

Developer responsibilities/commitments

The Developer/Land Promoter will:

  • agree to a project plan, including the key stages and milestones, which take into account the need for discussion and review to take place
  • pay the required fee to resource the PPA
  • undertake an urban design analysis and masterplanning work to inform the evolution of the scheme and the subsequent development of the design and access statement
  • engage in meaningful pre-application discussions, with adequate time allowed for the preparation of essential information and assessment of proposals. This will include working with and consulting with communities where appropriate
  • respond within the agreed timescales to requests for further information and/or revisions
  • attend project meetings with relevant persons
  • keep the council informed of progress at all key stages of the project
  • undertake a Design Review process on larger scale developments where agreed
  • submit a complete planning application with all of the requested supporting information as agreed with the council, including a draft legal agreement where appropriate