How a decision is made on an application

How the council considers a planning application

Application forms are checked to make sure they are completed and all the information has been supplied.
Consultation is carried out with the application displayed on the website and, where appropriate, by local occupiers and groups, council departments and government bodies identified for consultation by letter and/or by a notice displayed on site or in the local press.
The planning case officer visits the site to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbours and the surrounding area.
The planning case officer assesses the application using the policy guidance of the Southwark Plan, comments received from consultees, government advice and other material planning factors.
Following this assessment the applicant may be requested to amend the application.
The planning case officer case officer writes a report recommending that planning permission is either granted or refused.
The report is checked by managers before being presented to councillors at a meeting of either the planning committee or a community council, or to a senior officer and manager with delegated authority. A decision is then made to grant or refuse planning permission.
Most planning applications are presented for decision within eight weeks of being received. More complex proposals or those that have to go to planning committee or community council for a decision may take longer.
Related information and guidance on planning applications.