Hart Leisure Centre and Frogmore Leisure Centre
Hart Leisure Centre and Frogmore Leisure Centre are reopen but the teacher and training swimming pools at Hart Leisure Centre is temporarily closed. Further information can be found on the EA website.
Countryside Services
All outdoor events are reopen, including volunteering. COVID-19 measures remain in place and government event guidance followed. For more information, please visit our Countryside pages at www.hart.gov.uk/countryside-nature.
Planning (Development Management)
The planning service is still operating however there is a reduced service. Staff are working almost entirely from home and this has had implications for the way that the service is running.
Contacting us
Our preferred method of contact is currently by email. For current cases you can email the Case Officer directly. For general queries, new cases, or where you do not know who your Case Officer is, then please send emails to planningadmin@hart.gov.uk.
Site visits
In line with the national lockdown, Planning, Conservation, Enforcement and Tree Officers are carrying out external site visits where necessary although this is being regularly reviewed. At present Conservation Officers are permitted to carry out unaccompanied internal inspection visits where no-one else is within the building at that time.
Where possible we will continue to use alternative means to assess applications and this may mean that we ask you to send us photos of your site, or we may arrange a live video call whilst you walk around the property. This will unfortunately mean that there may be some delays in assessing your application; if this affects you, your Case Officer will update you.
Applicants are still encouraged to provide comprehensive photos of the outside and inside (where necessary) of their property and/or relevant views from their land looking towards neighbouring properties, land and buildings. If we require further photos we will be in touch. Please note, however, that despite our best efforts, some applications will not be able to be determined at this time; however we will keep you updated if this is the case.
Site notices
Planning Officers are currently carrying out site visits to display site notices for all applications where a site notice is required by the legislation or the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement. Planning legislation requires that for certain types of application a site notice must be displayed; these are known as statutory site notices. For other types of application, including the majority of householder extension applications, the Council has recently amended its Statement of Community Involvement and will only be sending out neighbour notification letters.
Submitting applications
The preferred method of submission is via the Planning Portal. Paper applications may experience delays in processing. If you are intending to submit a complex or major planning application please contact us first to discuss the best method of submission. {lease email any queries to planningadmin@hart.gov.uk.
This applies to all types of application including planning, advertisement consent, listed building and tree works applications.
Consultation responses
The Council already sends all consultations to consultees such as Hampshire Highways Authority, Parish and Town Councils, Tree Officer, Historic England and the Environment Agency, by email and this will continue. However during this time, there are likely to be delays in the Council receiving consultation responses on any planning application due to the reduced capacity of consultees during the pandemic. This may mean that we are unable to determine your application within the usual statutory timescales.
We are continuing to send out neighbour notification letters. Our preferred method for submitting comments is via our online portal. If you are unable to use the online portal please email any comments to planningadmin@hart.gov.uk. There will be delays in processing any responses received by post so we would urge you to submit your comments by email or on the website. This applies to all types of application including planning, advertisement consent, listed building and tree works applications.
Pre-Application Advice including Duty Planner Service
The Council usually offers a paid for pre-application advice service alongside a very generic duty planning officer service. Until further notice this service will be restricted. We are currently unable to offer the drop-in service at the Council Offices. We will not be able to conduct any face-to-face meetings or site visits. Advice can still be given by email and by phone. It is recommended that you supply photos of your property and any relevant views with your pre-application advice request to assist us. There may be some delays in our response time and we will try to contact you to advise of any issues.
Where fees are payable we suggest you contact us by email at planningadmin@hart.gov.uk first with details of your pre-application advice request and we can advise you of the fee and how to pay.
Planning Committee and the Determination of Applications
The Council has delegated powers to Officers to determine a significant proportion of planning applications. However, some applications will be determined by the Council’s Planning Committee in line with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation set out within the Council’s Constitution.
Previous legislation allowing Council Meetings, including the Planning Committee, to be held virtually has now been removed. Meetings will take place in-person at the Council Offices and streamed online via our YouTube channel. Recordings will be kept for three months.
A list of future meetings can be viewed on our council meetings page.
Planning Enforcement
We will continue to monitor and review any allegations of unauthorised work however we are operating a reduced service. External site visits will take place where it is necessary and safe for the Enforcement Officer to do so.
Listed Building Applications
The above also applies to applications for works to listed buildings. If there are any works that are urgent, please email planningadmin@hart.gov.uk for further advice. You should clearly set out what works are required, any justification and why they are urgent (for example where a structure or building is in danger of imminent collapse; however you will be expected to supply the supporting information to demonstrate that this is the case). We will be able to advise you of the appropriate next steps.
Applications for works to protected trees
The above also applies to applications for works to protected trees. If there are any works that are urgent, please email trees@hart.gov.uk. You should clearly set out what works are required, any justification and why they are urgent (for example where a tree or branch is at imminent risk of causing harm or damage to property). You will be expected to supply supporting information to demonstrate that this is the case. The expected level of detail will vary depending on precise circumstances, but as a minimum we request that you provide photographs evidencing your concerns. If we require further information, we will contact you to advise on this.
Planning Appeals
Current Planning Inspectorate guidance is that they have resumed site visits where a visit is required and the Inspector can visit safely with social distancing in place. The Planning Inspectorate is not currently holding physical hearings or enquiries, however they are continuing with virtual hearings and enquiries. If you have any concerns regarding this, please contact the Planning Inspectorate directly via enquiries@planninginspectorate.gov.uk. You can read the latest information and guidance regarding planning appeals on the Planning Inspectorate website.
Street naming and numbering
We are able to continue our street naming and numbering services at this time although there may be some delays in processing your request. At this time we would strongly encourage you to make any application by email to streetnames@hart.gov.uk rather than by post. Any applications by post will experience delays in processing.
Building Control
Building Control continues to be operational although remotely. General enquiries and inspections should be made using the buildingcontrol@hart.gov.uk email address. This is monitored constantly and users will be contacted as soon as possible during normal working hours.
Site inspections are available daily but will be subject to a risk-based approach in terms of social distancing and completion visits will only be considered where a house sale is imminent.
Calls and advice relating to dangerous structures should use the above email or call 01252 622122 in the event of an emergency.
