Decisions on planning applications are influenced by:

• National policies
• Regional and local planning policies (the development plan)
• Impact on neighbours overlooking, loss of daylight, noise disturbance, pollution.
• Design and visual impact - is it in keeping with the surrounding area or street scene?
• Road safety and congestion, sustainability of access, parking, manoeuvring space, effect of traffic generation.
• History - any previous permissions or refusals on the site or nearby.

Under planning law some things are not considered relevant to the decision. These include:

• The intended user of the development - it is the use not the user which is important.
• Whether the applicant or landowner is known, liked or local.
• Whether the building will block your view.
• Concerns that are controlled under other legislation, such as building regulations, environmental health etc.

Who Determines the Applications

Straightforward applications are decided by the planning officers in accordance with the planning policies.  Large, controversial or complex applications are determined by either the relevant Development Control Sub Committee (North Sunderland; South Sunderland; or Hetton, Houghton and Washington) or the Planning and Highways committee which are made up of democratically elected councillors at a public meeting.

What happens if someone doesn't follow the terms of their Planning consent

We can take action if a building doesn't follow the terms of the planning permission by serving a compliance notice or in extreme cases by prosecution.  Members of the public can alert us if they suspect planning permission has been breached by contacting the enforcement team at dcenforcement@sunderland.gov.uk or by telephoning 0191 520 5506. All enforcement complaints are dealt with in the strictest of confidence.

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