Planning News 
Permitted development for Householders - technical guidance
The Department for Communities and Local Government had produced a document which aims to guide householders through the new rules on permitted development rights.
Commissioned and written under the last government, the guide simplifies the legislation which now governs whether or not planning permission is required for extensions and buildings within the curtilage of a dwelling.
The document can be viewed from here
South Downs National Park designation
The new South Downs National Park designation took effect at one minute past midnight on 31 March 2010, removing the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from 1 April 2010.
This is the tenth National Park to be designated.
The new National Park Authority now has a year to prepare for being fully operational in April 2011, including becoming the statutory Planning and Access Authority.
New National Park Circular and Vision Statement published by Defra
The Department for Food and Rural Affairs has published English National Parks and the Broads: UK Government Vision and Circular 2010
With a panoramic cover view of East Meon and surrounds, recognising the new South Downs National Park, the document gives information on organisation, procedures and Defra's vision for national parks in England.
The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010
On 26 February 2010, fees for amendments to planning applications came into effect:
Application for non-material changes to planning permissions:
- Householder: £25
- All other cases: £170
Application for a replacement planning permission subject to a new time limit (extension of time):
Increase in VAT for developer contribution fees from 1 January 2010
With effect from 1 January 2010, VAT payable on the administration fee for developer contributions has returned to 17.5% in line with the standard rate.
An amended schedule of charges can be found at the bottom of this page
Additional application forms
On 1 October 2009, two new application forms were introduced.
- non-material amendments to planning permissions.
- applications to extend the life of planning permissions and any associated conservation area or listed building consent
Both forms are available in paper form only but it is intended that they will become integrated into the Planning Portal online application service in April 2010.
Public Open Space and Transport contribution
An annual inflationary increase in contribution costs takes immediate effect and a copy of the pricing schedule is included on this page
Speaking at planning committee
We now have a scheme that allows people to address the council’s Planning Committee on particular applications where they have submitted comments in writing within the publicised date and where that application is to be determined by the Planning Committee.