Planning
Planning policies and practices shape development proposals for
the physical and economic regeneration of the borough.
They cover everything from large redevelopment schemes to small
housing developments, changes of use of property and residential
extensions.
For Planning Committee
information please see our 'Your Council' pages.
Our planning service consists of the following teams:
Development control (planning applications)
Development control, or planning control, deals with
applications for planning permission and related controls. You need
planning permission for most forms of building work,
from consent to alter listed buildings to displaying
advertisements.
You can view lists of weekly applications, decisions and
appeals, get guidance on applying for permission, information on
our pre-application service, search applications and find out
about our fees on our development control
pages.
The spatial policy team is currently preparing the core
strategy, which will determine the broad locations for development
within the borough. From 2006 to 2026, 11080 homes are
being built in Maidstone Borough, as well as associated
employment and retail development. All of this new development
must be balanced with the need to protect Maidstone's natural and
historic built environment, ensuring a sustainable future for those
living and working in the borough.
Planning enforcement (planning complaints)
This team makes sure that all development is in accordance
with a planning permission and takes action in cases of breaches of
planning control.
This team gives advice relating to trees within conservation
areas, protected trees on public and private land, hedges and
landscaping issues.
The team also deals with issues relating to listed buildings and
buildings within conservation areas, helping developers and the
public make best use of historic buildings and undertaking building
works in a sympathetic way recognising listed building
legislation.
Councillors's code of conduct for planning matters
This code sets out how councillors can be involved in
preliminary discussions and highlights issues about the pre
determination of planning applications
To view the local code of conduct for councillors and
officers dealing with planning matters click
here. The relevant section starts from page 231-250.
Green planning
Maidstone Borough Council is a member of the low emission
strategies (LES) partnership. The partnership comprises
a peer group of 15 local authorities across England working
together to support local implementation of LES. LES
provide a package of measures to help mitigate the transport
impacts of development. Their primary aim is to accelerate the
uptake of low emission fuels and technologies in and around a new
development, thereby complementing other design and mitigation
options, such as travel planning and the provision of public
transport infrastructure. For more information
visit http://www.lowemissionstrategies.org/
Building control
Building control is responsible for making sure all
building work complies with building regulations. Building
control approval is an independent check to ensure that
regulations have been complied with.
The process ensures health and safety, energy efficiency and
accessibility issues are all covered. Approval is obtained by
prior application and submission of details and/or by inspection of
the ongoing works on site.
Land charges
Local land charges were originally designed to ensure that
purchasers of land were not caught unawares by enforceable
obligations against owners by local authorities. The service is
governed by the Act of 1975 and rules of 1977.
When buying a property it is important to have a search
carried out as this will tell you about plans for new roads,
planning agreements, tree preservation orders, listed buildings,
financial charges and enforcement notices, which may affect the
property.