Purpose of the Validation Customer Charter

Invalid planning applications cause significant delays and unnecessary work for Planning Authorities, applicants and agents.

In recent years East Dunbartonshire Council has seen a significant number of planning applications being invalid on receipt. Only around 50% of planning applications are valid on receipt and for each invalid application there is then a series of correspondence to ensure whatever information is missing is received which would not be necessary if it were valid on receipt. The purpose of this document is therefore to provide advice on how to ensure your application is made valid at the first attempt, to set out some new procedures to help this be achieved and to provide new timescales for the validation process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Plans

The level of plans necessary will vary depending on the type of application, however for a householder application (which form the majority of those submitted to EDC) the following is a minimum:

  • Location plan at a scale of 1:1250, or 1:2500 for more rural locations, with the site outlined in red and any other land owned by the applicant outlined in blue. Where possible the location plan should identify at least two street names
  • An existing and proposed block plan at a scale of 1:200 or 1:500
  • Existing and proposed elevations at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100
  • Existing and proposed floor plans at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100
  • The further information described in the checklist from appendix 1 (separate document). This checklist must also be completed and submitted with the application to confirm all information has been provided.

For some types of application, depending on the nature and location, the above will be necessary and the following supporting information:

  • Drainage proposals – see appendix 2 for the types of development where this information is essential
  • A Flood Risk Assessment – see appendix 2 for the types of development where this information is essential

Forms

The correct completed application form including ownership certificate. We would strongly recommend that applications are submitted online via eDevelopment.scot which will direct you to the correct form for your development.

Fees

  • The relevant fee. This can be determined using the fee calculator at ePlanning.scot or by contacting the planning duty officer
  • For ‘bad neighbour’ developments (as described in Schedule 3 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(Scotland) Regulations 2013) an advertisement fee of £200 will be necessary
  • For applications where there are no premises on neighbouring land for notification to be sent (with the exception of householder applications) an advertisement fee of £200 will also be necessary.

We aim to respond to the receipt of a new application to confirm that it is either valid or invalid within 5 working days of receipt. If the application is invalid we will clearly identify what actions must be taken to make it valid. On receipt of this further information we aim to respond within 5 working days confirming that the application is now either valid or if any outstanding points have not been adequately addressed.

If no response is received to an invalid letter within 28 days the application will be withdrawn and any fee paid returned.

The purpose of the above measures is to improve the percentage of applications being declared invalid and thereby reduce timescales for all involved. The figures below indicate recent trends in that regard and also how we are performing against the targets described above.

2019/20

Percentage valid on receipt: 47.5%

2020/21

Percentage valid on receipt: 50.1%

2021/22

Percentage valid on receipt: 49.2%

Email – planning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Phone – 0300 123 4510 – Ext. 8600 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1pm)

East Dunbartonshire Council processes personal data according to the General Data Protection Regulations or GDPR and all other relevant national data protection laws.

Any personal data you provide will be held by East Dunbartonshire Council in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and all other relevant data protection laws. The personal information will be recorded and used to help us to consider, administer and decide (where relevant) the application, enforcement case, enquiry or related submission. Your information may also be shared with other departments within the council and other organisations for the same purposes and also to:

  • To fulfil your request for information or services
  • Check that the information we have is accurate
  • Prevent and/or detect crime
  • As input to improving our site
  • As part of the process of consultation

For information on our privacy notices visit the Privacy Notices section.

Prior to submitting a planning application please complete the checklist below and submit with your application. Failure to include this checklist or any items listed on it will result in the application being made invalid:

  • A full and accurate written description of the proposed development
  • The postal address of the land in question (or a description of its location if there is no postal address)
  • The full name, address and email address of the applicant and/or the agent if an agent has been appointed
  • All relevant sections of the correct application form are completed
  • Land Ownership Certificate is included where required.
  • All forms are signed and dated
  • A Location Plan which is sufficient to clearly identify the land subject to the application and neighbouring land within 20 metres including a north point and two street/road names
  • A Block Plan that shows both the existing and the proposed buildings
  • A solid red line identifying the site must be the same on both the Location Plan and Block Plan
  • Such other plans and drawings as are necessary to describe the development
  • Plans must be to a metric and a recognised scale and show scale used
  • The correct fee has been submitted with the application
  • A full set of existing and proposed plans and elevation
  • Drainage or flooding information if applicable.

Submission of this information is required to enable an application to be registered as valid. These are the minimum requirements and it should be noted that for more complex proposals, additional information such as a flood risk assessment and drainage impact assessment may be required. Detail for this can be found in our Flooding and Drainage Policy.

Drainage

All developments other than householder or changes of use will need to provide a drainage statement. This should describe the proposed drainage arrangements and connections to a surface water system or Scottish Water drainage network. Plans submitted with the application should include the proposed layout of the drainage proposals which should include SuDS for attenuation and treatment of surface water.

Essential document checklist – Drainage

  • General description of the development, its size, location and surrounding topography and land uses
  • Description of existing drainage arrangements on site and any sewers
  • A concept drawing of the development and proposed/likely means of providing foul and surface water drainage
  • Evidence of proposed runoff rates and storage volumes for a variety of return periods.

Flooding

All new development needs to consider the risk of flooding. It is advisable to anyone wishing to apply for planning permission to first check if the proposed development site is considered to be at risk of flooding. Information on flood risk can be found on the SEPA Website.

Guidance on submitting a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) can be found in SEPA’s Technical Flood Risk Guidance for Stakeholders website.

CIRA Report 624 Development and flood risk – guidance for the construction industry.

The level of FRA required should be discussed with the Council prior to submitting a planning application. The FRA should be completed by a professional with relevant experience in flood risk and drainage design

Essential Document Checklist – Flooding (applicable where the site is identified a s at risk of flooding and either consists of one or more new houses or is a change of use to a more vulnerable use class).

  • An FRA providing the following information: a brief statement about potential flood risk to the site, general description of the development, its size, location and surrounding topography, flood risk from all sources considered/commented on based on author’s knowledge/observations and experience, reference to SEPA flood maps where applicable.