Current Issues

(July 2009) Recent planning applications have shown that residents in the vicinity of a planned development are often unaware of the scheme under consideration. Councils have to advertise planning applications under Article 8 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995. This makes it mandatory to advertise an application "in a newspaper circulating in the area." Presently Mole Valley publicise planning applications in The Advertiser but this newspaper is not widely read.

The Government is also undertaking an experiment to scrap this requirement and presently the London Borough of Camden no longer follow the Rule. The Residents' Association believes residents should be made aware of planning applications that may affect their way of life and thus it is proposed to replicate the Council's weekly running list on this web site. Click here to see the current week's plans. Current Plans

Please note that whilst we will endeavour to keep this up to date, it must be appreciated that this is a voluntary service and holidays and other duties may intervene to prevent the site from being updated. The definitive reference should always be Mole Valley Council's own web site http://www.mole-valley.gov.uk. Search under "Development Control".

N.B. You can comment on any current application either through the MVDC Online Planning Database www.molevalley.gov.uk, or by emailing planning@molevalley.gov.uk , by writing to Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1SJ. Please read Commenting on an Application (Letters of Representation).

If you would like further information, please call 01306 879102, or visit MVDC at the Pippbrook Offices (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm).

Some residents have asked for guidance on what to include in letters to the Council relating to Planning Applications. The general advice is to let Planning Officers know your concerns. Officers will relate concerns to planning policy and report accordingly, but in general terms the advice is as follows:-

Your attention is drawn to the Access of Information Act, 1985, which requires that all letters of representations must be made available for inspection and/or copying if requested, by any member of the public and kept for that purpose, for a period of four years. Also, should there be an appeal by the applicant against the Council’s decision, your letter(s) will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and the appellant. All letters received on planning applications will be available for public inspection at the Council Offices, Pippbrook, Dorking.

In making comments on the planning application, it would be helpful if your views could be directed to relevant planning issues. Please note that any duplicated letters will be treated as a petition and, as such, will not be acknowledged individually.

	Issues which can be considered include:		Issues which cannot be considered include:
a)	Layout and density of buildings	a)	Boundary disputes, covenants or other property rights
b)	Overshadowing, overlooking and lack of privacy	b)	Personal remarks (e.g. the applicant’s motives)
c)	Appearance and character of development	c)	Reductions in property values
d)	Traffic generation, highway safety, parking	d)	Loss of private view over land
e)	Noise, disturbance or other loss of amenities	e)	Matters dealt with under other laws (e.g. licensing)
g)	Relevant planning policies

OFFICE LOCATIONS AND OPENING HOURS

Pippbrook, Dorking

Open 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (Telephone No. 01306 879102)

A monthly Committee Meeting is held at the Peace Memorial Hall where the Committee discusses both Policy and Operations aspects of the Association. Planning Applications, Transport & Highways and local decisions affecting the community are regularly discussed as well as current issues in the public eye e.g. highways and railways. To contact our Planning Officer, Roger Bennett with any concerns on current planning applications that may affect your property, email Roger on Plans@ashteadresidents.org.uk.

Mole Valley District Council's Web Site contains regularly updated lists of all Planning Applications and Decisions. In addition it provides useful assistance and planning guidance. Details of the Planning & Building Control Area Teams and Other Main Contacts can be found at the Mole Valley web site:-

http://www.mole-valley.gov.uk

For assistance on Town Planning and related issues there is another web site which provides independent professional guidance:-