In theory, the process of obtaining planning approval should be quite simple. The idea is that planners compare an application to the council’s current policy and if it complies, they accept it. If it doesn’t sit in line with their protocols, they refuse. This should be a rational, objective process but in reality it is nothing of the kind. The council often has to mediate between conflicting interests at the same time as checking a myriad of documents that describe official policy and guidelines. Sometimes they will go back to an individual to say it looks their application is going to be refused, suggesting it might be better to withdraw and amend it before it’s formally rejected.
The process