Get involved in planning

Every planning application goes through the same decision making process (Planning Portal). Most applications are assessed against our planning policies and decided by managers in the development management team under delegated powers. Some larger or contentious applications are decided by area planning sub-committee or Planning Committee.

Area planning sub-committee meetings are normally held every 4 weeks and Planning Committees are held throughout the year on a Tuesday evening in the Civic Centre, Esher. Check the committees calendar as exact dates may vary. 

Area planning sub-committee 

The sub-committee will decide:

• all applications (except major) ‘referred’ to a sub-committee by a ward member for the ward within which the application is situated shall be done on a conditional basis giving a planning reason - referrals shall be submitted within 28 days of registration
• minor applications (1-9 dwellings or non-residential development less than 1000sqm) which are recommended for approval by officers and there are objections from 15 or more households or from Claygate Parish Council (if a petition, or an objection letter is received from an organisation such as a residents’ association, political party or conservation area advisory committee each shall be treated in the same way as an objection from 1 household)
• applications for permission in principle which are recommended for approval by officers and there are objections from 15 or more households
• all applications submitted by or on behalf of members or officers of the council (or any close connections thereto)

Householder applications will only be decided by sub-committee if referred by a ward councillor as set out above or if they are on behalf of members or officers of the council.

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee will decide: 

• major applications ‘referred’ to the Planning Committee by a ward member for the ward within which the application is situated giving a planning reason - referrals shall be submitted within 28 days of registration
• any 2 members of the Planning Committee have referred an application from an area planning sub-committee to the Planning Committee provided that they have been present for the complete consideration of that application at the area planning sub-Committee meeting
• major applications (10+ dwellings or 1000sqm+ non-residential floorspace) which are recommended for approval by officers where there are objections from 15 or more households or from Claygate Parish Council (if a petition, or an objection letter is received from an organisation such as a residents’ association, political party or conservation area advisory committee each shall be treated in the same way as an objection from 1 household)
• all departures from the Development Plan required to be referred to the Secretary of State
• all applications submitted by or on behalf of the council, in relation to its own land