Planning and Building Control
Planning policies and practises 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.
Our planning service consists of the following teams:
Development Control
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
on our planning pages and track the status of applications.
Find out when the next Planning Committee
meeting is.
Planning Policy (Local Development Framework)
The Planning Policy team develops policy to shape the future of
the Maidstone Borough, including Harrietsham, Lenham, Marden,
Staplehurst and Headcorn. Over the period until 2026,
Maidstone will accomodate 10,080 new homes, as well as associated
employment. The challenge for the Planning Policy team is to
accommodate the growth in the borough, whilst protecting the
features of the built and natural environment which make Maidstone
so popular.
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.
Landscape and Conservation
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
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.