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Changing your planning application

Pre-decision changes

Planning Portal - submit changes

We encourage developers to prepare their planning applications to a high standard by first seeking pre-application advice. 

According to government advice:

“Early engagement has significant potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system for all parties. Good quality pre-application discussion enables better coordination between public and private resources and improved outcomes for the community“. 

Government has also made it clear that amendments to schemes are “best undertaken at the pre-application stage". This is to ensure that high-quality schemes are submitted first time round.

To help applicants prepare a high quality application, we provide a pre-application advice service. 

This helps us to:

  • work positively and proactively with developers
  • secure developments that will improve the economic, social, and environmental conditions of the area
  • make decisions about planning applications as quickly as possible - which is in the best interest of all parties and stakeholders.

How to amend an active planning application

We reserve the right to request or accept changes to any planning application that is under consideration with us. 

When making amendments, please take into account the following guidelines:

  • we will not normally request changes if you did not seek pre-application advice with us
  • we will not normally request changes if you decided not to follow the advice given during the pre-application service
  • if we consider an amendment to your application is appropriate, we will request the required amendments once. We will also confirm any submission deadline. It is not our policy to continue with protracted discussions.

Please note, if you: 

  • fail to submit any requested amendments, or fail to submit them by the agreed deadline; or 
  • refuse our request for an extension to the statutory determination period, to allow more time for us to consider amendments; or fail to respond to it by the agreed deadline

Your application will be considered based on the information previously submitted. This could result in planning permission being refused, without additional discussion.

  • If we decide that we will not request amendments and that your application should be refused permission, we may issue the decision without any prior written or verbal notice to the applicant or their appointed agent.
  • Developers whose application is refused or withdrawn should use our pre-application advice service. This is so we can discuss how to overcome any concerns before you submit a new planning application

What to include

When sending changes to us, please include:

  • a covering letter to explain what has been changed
  • updated plans and make sure plan reference numbers are changed to show it is a different version

Please note, as a result of the change, a re-consultation might be needed.

Amended plans should be sent to us via email or through the Planning Portal. 

Planning.submissions@n-somerset.gov.uk

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