The Cookham Plan

Findings and Recommendations

Housing and Development Group

APPENDIX 2 - PLANNING PROCESSES

For detail about the RBWM planning department and the work that they do then please refer to the RBWM web site: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk. In summary as of March 2007 the RBWM Planning Service Teams are:

This team helps to maintain a safe and healthy environment in which to live and work, by ensuring compliance with Building Regulations. They provide assistance with pre-application advice and help through the application and site

inspection process. The service also deals with demolition notices and dangerous structures.

This team deals with all matters relating to Planning Applications. The department is divided into three teams which deal with: large scale applications, medium scale applications and a "Fast Track" service which handles all the householder and domestic applications.

If someone has carried out building work, or changed the use of land or buildings without planning permission, or has not complied with conditions attached to a planning permission, the Enforcement section will investigate.

This team is responsible for the Local Plan, providing advice on policy matters and developer contributions; the production of development briefs and other plans for specific sites and areas in the Borough, providing Census, demographic and monitoring information; and also advice on Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings and Archaeology.

Within the village the groups that have an interest in planning development are: 

• The Parish Council - http://www.cookham.com/cookhamnow/parishcouncil/index.htm A copy of their Strategic Plan can be found at this site

• The Cookham Society http://www.cookham.com/cookhamnow/clubssocieties/cookhamsociety/cookhamsociety.htm

All building development follows a plan lead system which sets out what we can build and where and is controlled by policies which are created at government, regional, county and local levels. The local planning policy and therefore the

Local Development Framework is not a standalone document, it highlights the aims of the Borough Council but when considering any plans the following documentation may also be taken into account

It should be understood that the planning department use the policies listed above and many others as ‘Material Consideration’ i.e. the reason(s) given, for accepting or declining a planning application. For the latest information on the Local Boroughs thinking/interpretation of the policies then refer to the Planning Policy Department.

Building Regulations are legal requirements aimed at achieving minimum standards of construction. They are levels of performance laid down by Parliament which deal with the construction of buildings and the installation of some services. The regulations cover a range of requirements including: structural stability, fire safety, moisture resistance and energy efficiency.

Building Regulations usually apply if putting up a new building, extending or altering an existing one or changing the use of a building. Building Regulation approval is completely different from Planning Permission and it does not mean that if you get one you will automatically get the other.

For the latest information on Building Control go to: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/bc_building_control_index.htm

Licenses are required for:

• Premises and Personal licenses - Selling of alcohol – Licensing Act 2003

• Providing entertainment

• Signage and lighting in a conservation area

• Street (pavement) cafes

Local licensing statement policy can be found at: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/licensing_2003act.htm

If building work does not comply to building regulations, the Building Control Team can ask the developer to alter or remove the building. If this request is ignored, the Council may serve a notice under Section 36 of the Building Act

1984 requiring the developer to carry out the work. This notice must be served within 12 months of the Building Control Team being involved with the development.

The planning enforcement policy document is available at: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/public/enf_policy_statement.pdf

RBWM is currently in the process of replacing the adopted local plan with a new Local Development Framework. Central to this is a series of Core Strategies which are currently available in draft form. Those which are relevant to this report are listed below.

CS1- Spatial Strategy

CS2-Green Belt

CS3-Rural communities

CS5-The natural environment and conservation

CS7-Landscape

CS8-River Thames Corridor

CS9-Pollution and Noise Nuisance

CS10-Flood Risks

CS11-Renewable Energy

CS12-Enhancing the Historic Environment

CS13-Achieving Quality Buildings and Spaces

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