Welcome To Wirral

Before completing the forms please read all these notes, which are in the same order as the questions on the forms. It is important to complete all four copies of the form - this number is necessary for the consultations that have to be carried out on your application.

Please note that there is a simpler form for householders to apply for Planning Permission for extensions, garages etc.

Questions 1 and 2
NAME AND ADDRESS OF APPLICANT AND AGENT

If the form is completed by an agent, all correspondence from this department will be sent to that person.

Question 3
FULL POSTAL ADDRESS OF THE APPLICATION SITE

Enter here the full postal address of the property for which planning permission is being applied for.

Question 4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED WORKS

This should clearly state the proposed uses(s), the number of storeys if new buildings are proposed, and the number of dwellings if residential development is proposed. Example: Erection of 12 No. three storey dwelling-houses and a block of four storey offices.

Question 5
ADJOINING LAND

If you own or control any adjoining land the location must be entered on the application form and the area edged blue on the site plans.

Question 6
PROPOSAL

(a) NEW BUILDINGS - This includes any proposal to erect a new building (other than residential units or extensions to existing buildings).

(b) NUMBER OF NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS - If the proposal involves residential development please enter the number of new residential units proposed.

(c) ALTERATION OR EXTENSION - This includes any alterations or additions to an existing building within the curtilage of the site.

(d) CHANGE OF USE - Change of use of land or building from one class to another. Example: Dwelling-house to shop

(e) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ACCESS TO A HIGHWAY

(f) ALTERATION TO AN EXISTING ACCESS TO A HIGHWAY

(g) NAME OF HIGHWAY - If you need a new vehicle access from a road onto your property, or you propose to alter an existing access to a highway a pavement crossing must be constructed at your expense. All work on the highway must be carried out by the Borough Engineer or his agent and if you receive Planning Permission you should write to the following address to make arrangements for the work to be carried out:

Director of Technical Services
Cheshire Lines Building
Canning Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 1ND

Telephone (0151) 606 2004

Question 7
EXISTING USES

Should be completed for all applications, for all parts of the site and on all floors of existing buildings. Example: vacant wholesale warehouse.

If any of the existing buildings are 'listed' as being of architectural or historic interest and you propose altering them, you will probably need to make a separate application for Listed Building Consent. If the existing buildings are not 'listed' but the site is within a Conservation Area, you will need to obtain separate consent if you intend to demolish any buildings or structures. If in doubt, discuss with the Planning office.

Question 8
TYPE OF APPLICATION

(a) OUTLINE FOR NEW BUILDING WORKS - You should tick box A, if you wish to know whether Planning Permission will be given for the erection of buildings and do not wish to submit all details at present, but please give as much information as you are able. If you submit plans showing tentative ideas of how the development might be carried out, those plans will not form part of the application and should be marked 'for illustrative purposes only'. The Planning Office may require more details before determining the application, especially in Conservation Areas. It may not be appropriate to reserve certain matters for future consideration. Example: means of access may be especially important. It is therefore very useful to discuss an outline application with the Planning office before submitting it so as to agree on the amount of details required.

(b) FULL APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF USE AND/OR NEW BUILDING WORKS - Tick box B if you are submitting all the details of new building works, including materials of construction, landscaping, car parking and access. You must submit appropriate accurate plans to a suitable scale showing site location, layouts, elevations (including notes of materials) and sections. Four copies are required of each plan.

(c) RESERVED MATTERS - You should tick box C if outline Planning Permission has already been granted and approval is now sought for approval of the reserved matters. The outline permission must still be valid. The reserved matters must be in accordance with the outline plans and the conditions attached to the outline permission. Please tick those matters which form part of the reserved matters application.

(d) REMOVAL OF A CONDITION

(e) RENEWAL OF A TEMPORARY CONDITION

(f) RETENTION OF A BUILDING, OR CONTINUANCE OF A USE WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH A CONDITION - If you wish to apply for permission to retain works or to continue a use without complying with a condition subject to which the original permission was granted (including any requirement that works should cease by a specified date), you should enter the date and number of the original permission and identify the particular condition.

Where the application is made before the appropriate time limit expires, provision is made for a simplified application. It is not necessary for this form to be completed: the application may be by letter, giving sufficient detail of the previous planning permission to enable the authority to identify it: such applications must be accompanied by the appropriate certificate under Article 12 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.

Question 9
NON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

If you have answered 'yes' to any of the uses in this question you will need to complete Part 2 of the application form. However, if your proposal is for minor works. e.g. Shop Fronts Part 2 of the form is not required.

Question 10
DRAINAGE

All new buildings should have separate connections to foul water sewer and storm water sewer. If this is not possible, state on the application form what the drainage arrangements will be. The position of all underground services should of course be determined before detailed plans for new buildings are prepared.

Question 11
TREES

The council wishes to see existing trees retained wherever possible. There is a space on the application form to state whether or not your proposal(s) involves the felling of any trees. You should accurately show the position and spread of any existing trees on your plans and state clearly which. if any. are to be felled. If you do intend to fell or lop any trees. and your proposal is in a Conservation Area. you should consult the Planning Office at least six weeks before you intend to carry out the work. in this case please write a separate letter giving details of the proposed work. In any other location you should always find out from the Planning Office if trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order before carrying out any tree surgery work.

Question 12
HEIGHT OF BUILDING

Please state the maximum height of the proposed building above ground level.

Question 13
BUILDING REGULATION APPROVAL

Most new building works have to be checked for compliance with the Building Regulations to make sure the building will be safe and habitable - that is, structurally stable with suitable materials, adequate daylight, ventilation, protection against damp, cold, fire and noise, with proper drainage and access for disabled people where relevant. The Building Regulations are for the protection of your health and the health of the general public. Certain small constructions do not need Building Regulations consent, this can be discussed with the Building Control Division who can be located at the same address as the Planning Division.

Plans

With your application you need to submit site plans and appropriate building drawings.(Example Plan)

The site plan

This should show your proposal site and all adjoining houses and roads. with a red line drawn around your proposal site. drawn to a scale of 1:1250 (copies of these plans can be purchased from the Technical Services department). You must show all the existing buildings on your proposal site.

The building drawings

• Except in the case of outline applications where. additional drawings are not formally needed
• Should show the 'layout' of rooms in the whole building (one plan for each floor if more than one floor) and indicate doors, windows, thickness of walls and type of materials used.
• What the new building will look like from the outside (known as the 'elevations'), showing building materials to be used, front, side and rear elevations must be drawn.
• A section showing the type of construction, and the building materials, through floor, walls and roof.

These detailed plans must be drawn accurately to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100.

Access for disabled people

The Council places considerable importance on increasing accessibility to buildings for disabled people. All new buildings to be used by the public including shops, licensed premises, offices, factories etc. must make suitable provision. Proposals for extensions and changes of use to existing buildings should make similar provision, where practicable.

This may include:

• reserved wide car parking spaces;
• dropped kerbs and level approach to building;
• ramp at entrance and wide doors;
• adapted w.c. facilities.

Many of these features would also help elderly people and parents with young children. Applicants should show the provision of facilities for disabled people clearly on building drawings. These will also be picked up by the Building Regulations where appropriate.

An Access Officer is employed by the Council to give advice to applicants. More detailed information and design specifications may be obtained from a separate leaflet, 'Designing for Everyone' or part M of the Building Regulations. If you require further advice or a copy of the leaflet, ask to speak to the Access Officer at the Planning Office.

Landscaping for new developments

Landscaping is one of the matters the Local Authority is under a statutory duty to consider when granting planning permission. The Authority also has a duty to ensure that adequate provision is made for the preservation and planting of trees. When you submit a planning application for new development you will normally be required to submit landscaping details at the time of submission. A supplementary Planning Guidance note 'Landscaping within new Developments' outlines the landscaping requirements, and is included in this package of submission documents. If for any reason you have not received a copy; please contact the planning office, who will provide you with the note, or offer advice.

Ownership

If you are making a planning application, you must also complete a certificate which states the ownership of the property. This is known as an 'Article 12 Certificate', and normally enclosed with this leaflet you will find Certificates A and B. Complete A if you are the sole owner of all the land to which the application relates and if no part of the land is an agricultural holding ('owner' means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest with at least seven years unexpired).

If you are not the sole owner, the owner(s) must be told about your application. Please then ignore Certificate A and complete Certificate B, sending Notice No.1 (or copies of it) to each owner.

Certificate B should be completed (stating the name of the adjoining owner) if any part of a proposed extension, etc., including foundations, encroaches onto, under or over adjoining property.

Hazardous materials

If the proposal involves the use or storage of large quantities of hazardous materials as listed here, reply to question 10 on Part 2, stating the materials and quantities involved and confirm that the Health and Safety Executive have been consulted.

Planning fees

With your application, you must send the correct fees, as laid down by Parliament. Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to: 'Metropolitan Borough of Wirral'. Details of the fees payable are given on a separate sheet enclosed with the application forms. Also, see the link at the bottom of this page.

Time allowed for decision by the council

When you submit this application it will be formally acknowledged. The letter of acknowledgement will tell you that the council is allowed eight weeks by law to decide on a planning application. If there are no problems with your application, it is hoped that the decision will be made sooner. However, the Council deals with about two and a half thousand planning applications a year and has to consult other official bodies before coming to a decision on most of them.

Completed applications

Your completed application may be sent to the office or delivered by hand between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. The Council's Planning Division welcomes discussion of sketch plans before they are formally submitted as an application.

Further information

If you have any queries or need any help you can telephone 0151 606 2020, or call at the office.

Technical Services Department
Cheshire Lines Building
Canning Street
Birkenhead
CH41 1ND