Planning service and performance

Development Service
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 provide an integrated
development function to residents and developers in the
borough, the Development Service contains the Development
Control (planning) and Building Control teams.
Team commitment
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.
In recent years we have proved successful in facilitating and
assisting major employment-generating developments throughout the
borough.
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, which we will refer to our fortnightly Development
Team meeting to co-ordinate pre-application advice, 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.
Pre-application discussions
We are happy to talk to potential applicants and agents
before an application is submitted so as to encourage quality
applications.
Building Control - 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).
Development Control (Planning) - A duty officer is available to
provide verbal advice on householder developments at the Huyton One
Stop Shop on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings (9am-1pm) and
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons (1pm-5pm). To assist
pre-appication discussions the following information should ideally
be provided before we make intial comments on a development
proposal: site address, description of proposed development, a
draft layout plan and photographs of the site showing the
rleationship to adjoining uses and development.
Major developments
In the case of larger proposals, we advise applicants to
approach the Development Group Manager or the Development Control
Team Leader with an appropriate level of draft information as set
out in the Pre-application discussions section above. This
information can then be discussed at an early meeting of the
Council's Development Team and a planning case officer can provide
initial feedback on the proposals.
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
submitted 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 relevant 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.
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 report
thsi to the first available meeting of the Development Team.
- 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.
For further information and to make use of this service
contact:
- Development Group
Manager
0151 443 2313
- Development Control Team
Leader 0151 443 2394
Performance and quality
We aim to provide the highest standards of service and support
the council's corporate objective to make the borough a better
place to live, work, learn, and visit.
We want to make sure that you, our customers, know what to
expect from planning services, in terms of performance and service
delivery.
Your views count
If you would like to make a comment, compliment or complaint
about any aspect of planning services, whether it be about the
quality of service or advice from officers, please submit your
views by completing the council's have your say form.
We welcome your views so that we can improve our service.