Witney News - Planning applications to go easier and greener

Planning applications to go easier and greener

Putting in a planning application is all set to become a lot easier and greener from 1st November when West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) becomes one of the first local authorities to switch to 1APP - the standard Government-backed online application form.

This is being phased in progressively and from 6th April 2008, 1APP will be the only legal method of submitting most types of planning application to any local planning authority in England and Wales.

1APP will work in collaboration with the Government's online one-stop-shop for planning, known as the Planning Portal and will deliver greater transparency, consistency and efficiency in the planning system.

It will make it a lot greener too as just one form and set of plans will be required with an online application in place of the multiple copies required under the soon-to-be virtually outmoded paper system.

And because 1APP will become standard nationally, it will make life a lot easier for developers, architects and individuals submitting applications to more than one local planning authority.

"The new online system available through our website will cut out a whole host of paperwork that applicants have had to submit up until now," said Cllr Verena Hunt, Cabinet Member for Planning

"So there will be time and cost savings for applicants and a very significant drop in the volume of paper used, while the online system should speed up the entire planning process too."

As is the case with the Council's existing online planning application forms which will be phased out at the end of October, the 1APP forms will be accessible simply by logging on to www.westoxon.gov.uk/planning

Applicants who cannot access the internet or who have difficulty using it may still however request paper application forms by contacting Planning Services.

1APP has been developed in a partnership project between the Department of Communities and Local Government and local authorities to bring in a single national form.

More information is available by contacting Planning Services on 01993 861420 or emailing [email protected]