Once an application is made, MCC will normally post a planning notice in the vicinity of the proposed development and/or inform nearby residents of the application. However individuals may wish to set up planning alerts via MCC’s website. This can be done by going onto the homepage of that website, putting in your postcode in the ‘My Monmouthshire’ box on the left hand side, press ‘Go’ and follow the instructions.
When an application is made and once MCC has registered it, letters of objections or support can be made. They can be sent in hard copy to MCC planning department or via the MCC website on which full plans and other relevant information can be seen. Objections or correspondence in support should be made by individuals and refer to current planning policy. You should check with the planning office of MCC what development plan is relevant at the time of application. They can be contacted on 01633 644 644 and ask for the planning department.
MCC should (although it may take longer) make its decision in 8 weeks of the application first being registered (12 weeks for larger schemes). If it fails to determine the application within this timescale, the applicant can, if he/she wishes, go straight to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate and bypass the county council (though as planning appeals often take months this tends not to happen).
During the first 8 weeks that MCC has to make its decision, it will put the application out for 21 days of consultation. It is within that time that members of the public should make their position to the MCC clear and it is in that time that Monmouth Town Council (MTC) will be asked for its recommendation, either approval or refusal with reasons. The planning committee meeting will be advertised in the normal way and councillors are free to additionally advertise if they so wish.
Monmouth Town Council is obligated to make its recommendations within the 21 days. Thus correspondence towards the end of this period may not be made available the town council planning committee. If members of the public are unable to attend the meeting, then they should make their correspondence available to MCC and if they so wish to the Town Council as soon as possible. Correspondence to MCC will be put on the Planning Portal for members of the public and Town Council Members to see.
Following Monmouth Town Council’s recommendations to MCC no further correspondence should be sent to the Town Council concerning that particular application and the Planning Committee will not alter its decision. The Planning Committee may only discuss the application when MCC has made its decision and or if an appeal is made.