4 months for planning permission?

[Rhica]

My architect has advised the council are backed up and they bare saying current wait times for planning permission is 4 months. Can this be right? I thought they had to do it in 8 weeks unless it was an overly complex application (which this is not- in fact I'm not even sure we need planning permission)

Anyone else experienced such a long wait?

Unusual, but suppose planning depts are stretched. Our planning authority generally deal with about 90/95% of householder applications within 8 weeks.

The statutory target for a minor or householder application is 8 weeks from submission of a valid planning application.

You have the right to appeal to planning inspectorate if the council goes over the 8 weeks. But... at the moment the PI are just as pushed and appeals, even straightforward householders, are taking MONTHS!

Sometimes even what appears to be a straightforward application can be delayed - it may be called in by councillors to be determined at committee, the agent may not have submitted all info at start, so it can take time for the application to be “valid.” There may be staff sickness or difficulty arranging site visits. But generally for something straightforward and policy compliant an 8 weeks target is doable.

Ours is currently 4-6 months. People can't afford to move, don't want to move because of Brexit so they are extending. Builders here are doubling their prices too.

Oh ok. Perfectly normal then 😟 I'm surprised as builders in my area don't seem that busy (longest wait when getting quotes was 4 months). Just hope my built doesn't up prices in meantime. Thanks for help