planning applications - anyway of speeding up the process?

[teta]

Is there?.Builder has 3 weeks work left internally on other jobs.The planning application is due to be discussed on monday and passed on to a relevant officer.Then i guess the plans need to be posted on my gate for 3 weeks.At what stage can you risk starting to dig/prepare foundations as if the builder goes on to another job the work will be delayed until after christmas.All very frustrating as the architects submitted the plans to building regs 3 months ago [but didn't apply for planning permission!].And I'm really pee--d off

I would speak to your (not very bright) architects to get advice - or the planners.

Yes ,i have done.The 'not very bright' guys just spin me yarns and the planners just say that they have to go thru' the proper process.The architect has not even admitted that he is at fault on this.All very frustrating!.

Hey? didnt apply for planning so how could they submit detailed b-regs not knowing that there may be a possible problem.

There is no way of speeding it up. As long as they supply good detail. The planner could request a change in slight detail.

Yeh, you could dig but if any changes to size may be a bit risky. Also you want to take into account soil conditions, ie if you start digging now and we have torrential rain they could collapse and the b-inspector my request a deeper ex which adds additional costs to you. (say you pay for a machine to dig go away and then have to hand dig - nightmare).

May be worth giving the planner a ring next week to get any feedback?

Bacon,i would guess that in the process of looking at the building regs someone realised that we hadn't requested permission.Architect assured me several times that we didn't need it but promised to check.When the builder started i checked again and asked said architect re. planning he said he didn't know!- at which point I exploded and told him he was incompetent.I subsequently followed it up with the council meanwhile architect is still promising me it can be speeded up[yeah sure - i now believe everything you are telling me ].
We have a few inches of soil on top of solid rock so its more drilling than digging.Also have to dig rock out of a mini cliff face to leave enough space for the extension.The worst thing is we have demolished the oubuildings already but cannot rebuild as we need access thru' this area to get to the bit that needs planning permission.

Most good builders wouldn't risk annoying the planning department by starting a build before permission is granted.

We had our plans submitted 5th July, we had verbal YES from planning by the end of July but had to wait until the full 8 weeks from 5th July to get it in writing.

There is no way to speed up the process, they only hold meetings on certain days.

The building officer needs 48 hours notice, they view the build before it starts, during the build and then when it is finished. And you pay for the privilege.

Yes, I would definitely not start building before the planning permission comes through as you will be able to do very little before you need the building officer to come out and inspect the work, at which point you will grind to a halt anyway as the officer will realise that s/he is inspecting work for which there is no planning permission. I think you'd be better off not starting than risk getting stuck with a water-filled trench in your back garden.

I informed the building regs guys nearly 3 weeks ago that we were starting..Yes,the builder is reluctant to do anything until we have official permission.Can you not start building with a verbal yes?[well foundations and drilling].Can neighbours complain if you start unofficially?.Would it be worth asking the only neighbour [ the extension is next to the bottom of his very large terraced garden and he cannot even see it from his house and he has told me he has no objections] to sign a letter stating he has no objections - to speed things up?.

One thing you can do is to make sure it doesn't run over the 8 weeks that is the official target time for planning permission - the way to do this is to phone up in week 6/7, ostensibly to make sure that they have everything they need and to give them the opportunity ask any extra questions, but in fact to remind them that you're coming up to week 8 and so they need to get it done.

I believe (not sure at all) you can start in advance, but you'd have to be prepared to change it or undo it depending on what actually comes back from planning.

You can start whenever you like but at your own risk. You may have to change/redo things depending on the outcome of the application which would cost money and take time. Your architect is an idiot.

You can start before - but the first inspection needs to be approved by the b-inspector. No-one can complain because you are not building, you are digging not constructing. There are no rules on digging unless you go under engineering works where the shape of the garden/landscape is being changed considereably (knowledge: we run a groundworks company).

Good that you are on rock, no mud! The builder would be wise to hold until the planning came through as it could rebound on his professional conduct.

No, you still cant rush it through because there are so many weeks to allow for any objections. You could get an objection from anyone doesnt have to be a neighbour.

I understand your pain!