Pantmawr Site Visit

The Planning Committee will be holding a site visit at Pantmawr on 7th April 2008 at 4.30pm. The Council has agreed a Code of Practice in respect of such site visits - see below.


Planning Applications : Code of Practice for Site Visits
By the Planning Committee

1. Sometimes Members of the Planning Committee need to visit a site to help them make a decision on a planning application. These visits are an extension of the Committee meeting to enable Members to make a visual assessment of the site and its surroundings.

2. When a site visit is required the Development Control Section of Regulatory Services notifies the owner, if access to the premises is necessary.

3. Where sites are small, or access poor, and where planning issues are of limited interest, attendance at meetings is restricted to Councillors and Council officers only.

4. Where sites are large and with good access and where there is wide public interest in an application, attendance at meetings is open to all interested parties, including the public.

5. The owner of large sites is advised that although he and his agent may be present at the site visit, it is not an opportunity to make representations to Councillors. This does not prevent the applicant or his advisers pointing out factual matters such as the height of the proposed buildings or the position of a window. Similar advice is given to any other interested parties present.

6. For large site visits, the County Planning Department notifies those who have submitted written objections to the applications. However, where a petition of objection has been lodged, only one of the petitioners is notified. Objectors are notified that the Council cannot require an applicant to allow objectors onto his land and that their ability to attend the site visit is at the discretion of the applicant. Objectors are advised that the site visit is not an opportunity to make representations to Councillors, but that factual matters may be pointed out.

7. At the start of a large site visit, the planning officer explains to all persons present that :

(i) the purpose of the visit is to enable Councillors to see the site to enable them to consider and determine the planning application;

(ii) the visit is not the opportunity for interested parties to lobby Councillors to support or oppose the application;

(iii) if there are matters of fact, for example the height of the proposed building or the position of a window, that interested parties feel have not been indicated by the planning officer, they are able to indicate these or request that Councillors consider the site from a particular position;

(iv) interested parties should put any representations in writing to the Development Control Section of Regulatory Services prior to the application being considered at a meeting of the Planning Committee or Council, whichever is relevant;

(v) interested parties may discuss the matter with Local Members prior to the meeting at which the application is to be considered, and be informed that the names, addresses and telephone numbers of Local Councillors are available.

8. At the end of a large site visit, the Planning Officer will formally close the visit and explain to the members of the public present, the next stage in the procedure.



Approved November 1991
Amended April & August 1993
And November 1997