• Home Page
• -
• Environment
• -
• Planning and building control
• -
• Development team approach

Development quality is just a part of the practical and professional service available to you when working in the borough of Knowsley.

In order to improve service delivery to residents and developers in the borough, the Planning Services Division has joined the development control (planning) and building control functions into one unit consisting of two area teams.

To reinforce the team's commitment to quality we are accredited to ISO 9001 and fully endorse the council's quality initiatives such as Quality Assurance and Investor's in People.  We have also signed up to the Planning Users Concordat and the Enforcement Concordat.

Since we started the Development Quality Team approach, we have proved successful in facilitating and assisting major employment-generating developments throughout the borough. Click on the following links for more information about our team approach: 

• Knowsley's One Stop Shop approach
• Pre-application discussions
• Fast tracking applications
• Major developments
• Pre-application targets
• Who to contact

 
Knowsley's one stop shop approach
Our service delivery is based on the one stop shop and development team approach. Whether your enquiry relates to a major scheme, for which we will bring together a project team co-ordinated by our Site Development Manager, or it is a simpler scheme for which you need to speak on a one-to-one basis with the case officer, we will always have the right people available to help you.

back to top

 
Pre-application discussions
We are happy to talk to potential applicants and agents before an application is submitted so as to encourage quality applications.  A duty officer will be available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm to provide general information and advice either face to face or over the telephone.  Communication via email is also welcome to planning@knowsley.gov.uk or to individual officers (email addresses made available on request.

back to top

 
Fast tracking applications
We can offer a tracking for any major development proposals (see below) and we also provide a dedicated householder development service so we can target these applications for fast track decisions.

back to top

 
Major developments
In the case of larger proposals, we advise applicants to make an appointment with the Site Development Manager or with one of the Development Quality Managers.  A team of appropriate senior officers can be called together, for example, highway engineers or environmental health officers, and any relevant external statutory consultee (such as the Environment Agency).  An accurate brief will be agreed setting a timetable for the development and processing of the relevant development consents. Key issues such as employment, transport and any environmental matters, and where appropriate, the likely requirements of any legal agreement will normally be discussed at this early stage.

Where such meetings are held, the planning officer present will keep appropriate records of the discussion to assist in the efficient processing of the application once formally submitted.  If requested the council will maintan confidentiality at this stage.

Information given in response to pre-application discussions will always be as accurate as possible and will be objective. Such advice, however, cannot prejudice the outcome of a formally submittee planning application.  Written guidance notes will be made available explaining in detail how to make a planning application and will be sent out free of charge with application forms. Details of relevent council planning policies, procedures and committee dates will also be made available free of charge on request as will general information about the development control system.

Ordnance survey site plans will be made available on request for a charge covering the licensing fee (payable to Ordnance Survey) and a small administration charge.

back to top

 
Pre-application targets

• Where a major development is proposed (for commercial developments this would normally include residential developments with 10 or more dwellings or commercial and industrial developments providing a floorspace of 1,000 sq.m gross), we will seek to respond by setting up a meeting involving key senior council officers and relevant external representatives within a timescale of 7 working days.
• For development proposals requiring a response before this timescale, we will be happy to discuss with the developer their specific requirements and every effort will be made to accommodate them.
• Where advice regarding new development is sought by letter we will send a response within 10 working days. On occasion where a full reply within this period may not be possible, we will acknowledge the correspondence either by telephone or in writing and an indication given as to when a full response should be available.
• Where staff are unable to reply to telephone enquiries on receipt, we will return calls within 1 working day.

back to top

 
Who to contact
For further information and to make use of this service contact:

Site Development Manager  - 0151 443 2238
Development Quality Manager (North) - 0151 443 2308
Development Quality Manager (South) - 0151 443 2394

back to top