Chapter 4

The complainant stated that the Council received a second application for P02/591 on the 14 May 2002. He made a further submission on this second application on the 05 June 2002 which was within the 5 week period. However the Council granted planning permission on the 28 May 2002 which was within the 5 week minimum period stipulated in the Regulations.

The Council's Response

The Council stated that the application P02/591 was received on 4th April 2002 and the decision issued on 28th May 2002. It stated that this complies with the requirements of Article 30 and that there was no receipt of any "second application" on 14th May 2002. The Council received additional information on 14 May 2002 and considered that the submission of drawings on 14 May 2002 did not present any material alteration to those lodged on 4 April 2002.

The View of this Office

The complainant referred to the Council's decision to grant permission in relation to "Application Received: 04/04/02 & 14/05/02". However, it is clear that the application in this case was received on 4 April 2002. The additional information received on 14 May 2002 in the form of drawings was not considered relevant to the decision date as the Council did not consider they presented any material alteration to those lodged on 4 April 2002. As the application was received on 4 April 2002 and the Council's decision was made on 28th May 2002, it follows that the decision was not made within 5 weeks, of its receipt, as alleged.