The planning process

A guide to the planning process in North Devon

Planning helps shape how North Devon grows and develops. It ensures new buildings, changes of use, and land developments are well designed, sustainable, and meet local and national planning policies.

Making a planning application

You need planning permission for most new developments, extensions, and changes of use.

Applications can be made through the Planning Portal or directly to us. Please note the Planning Portal is a third-party company and an admin charge will be required to submit a planning application on this platform which is non-refundable

Please view the Local List and Local List Matrix guidance for information on what documents and plans are required for each type of planning application to be registered .

We’ll check that your application is valid before it’s published and assessed.

Further information can be found on our making a planning application webpages.

How we publicise planning applications

We make all new planning applications public so residents can have their say.

For most new planning applications, we go beyond the minimum statutory requirements by:

  • Sending neighbour notification letters to adjacent properties (this will not include land without a Royal Mail address point)
  • Displaying a site notice near the application site
  • Publishing an advertisement in the local press
  • Uploading the application on our online Planning Tracker
  • Publishing a weekly list of all valid applications registered
  • Sending weekly email bulletins of newly registered and approved applications

Commenting on an application

Anyone can comment on a planning application during the consultation period (usually 21 days).

You can:

Please quote the planning application number in all correspondence.

When commenting, please focus on material planning conditions, as these are what are taken into consideration when deciding on an application. Some examples of these are:

  • Design, scale, layout, materials and appearance
  • Traffic, highway safety and parking
  • Impact on neighbours (light, overlooking/loss of privacy, noise)
  • Environmental or heritage impacts (effect in Listed Building and Conservation Area)
  • Permitted development rights
  • Proposals in the Development Plan
  • National Planning Policy
  • Planning Practice Guidance
  • Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDS)
  • Five Year Housing Land Supply (5YHLS).

We can’t consider issues such as property value or private disputes.

Further information on objecting to a planning application can be found on our webpage.

Further information on how to comment on a planning application can be found on our how to comment on planning applications webpage

How decisions are made

Applications are assessed against:

Most decisions are made by planning officers. Larger or more complex applications may be decided by the Planning Committee, which meets in public.

When a decision is made, it’s published on our website with a decision notice and any conditions attached.

After a decision

If planning permission is granted, the development must follow the approved plans and conditions.

If it’s refused, the applicant can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.