New web service helps with planning permission

A NEW free online self-service planning tool has been launched by Tewkesbury Borough Council.

The planning tool enables anyone in the borough to check whether they are likely to need planning permission for any project they are thinking of developing.

The service is part of a national scheme by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to improve resident and landowners’ experience of submitting planning applications.

The new service makes high-level checks against national permitted development rights legislation and uses geographic information system data to see if the project may fall under ‘permitted development.’ The service also warns if other types of consent, such as prior approval, tree consent or listed building consent may additionally be required.

The service asks applicants questions specific to their project, meaning that users don’t need to be planning experts to start researching the changes they can make to their homes.

Executive director of place, Chris Ashman said: ‘‘We’re pleased to offer this user-friendly, online self-service planning tool. Residents can quickly and easily check if their idea for a planning project is likely to be allowed under national permitted development rights or whether it may require planning permission.

“Anything from a simple project like adding a driveway or solar panels to a roof can be checked.”

This service has been launched as part of the council’s successful bid for funding from DLUHC’S Planning Software Improvement Fund.

The project is supported by Open Digital Planning, a community of council officers, and digital and technical experts who are working together to design and build the next generation of local government planning services.

Visit https://planningservices. tewkesbury.gov.uk/check-if-you-needplanning-permission