Please note: Planning applications submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council go through a number of proccesses before permission can be granted:

Planning applications are considered against current planning policy as set out in the Development Plan, Regional and Government Guidance. The Development Plan consists of the County Structure Plan, Local Plans, Minerals Plan and Waste Local Plan. Planning legislation requires applications to be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless there are good planning reasons not to do so. Also other relevant factors, known as 'material considerations', must be examined.

Consultations are undertaken with district councils, parish councils, local residents and government agencies such as the Environment Agency and English Nature. Special interest groups are also consulted, for example the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust.

It is possible to attend Development Control Committee meetings dealing with planning applications. However, only elected members of the Development Control Committee are allowed to vote on an application. The Committee is guided in making its decisions by planning advice from officers. Smaller and less contentious applications are decided by officers under delegated powers in consultation with the Chair of the Development Control Committee.

Planning Appeals

If an applicant does not agree with the decision made by the County Council as Planning Authority, or the conditions imposed by it they can appeal to the planning inspectorate.

It should be noted that only an applicant is able to appeal against a County Council decision. Third parties cannot appeal against planning decisions through this process they will have to go through an alternative legal process.