WHAT IS PLANNING?

Town Planning is the means by which development in towns and in the countryside is controlled in the public interest.  In the UK people who want to make significant changes to our environment usually need planning permission to do so.  This is ensures that changes are regulated, so that attractive areas are not spoiled or buildings are not erected in unsuitable places.

The people who decide whether a building should be given planning permission have to work within policies, which are agreed with the local community.  The policies are set out in the adopted City Of Sunderland Unitary Development Plan (1998-2006).  This is available on the website and shows, for example, where new houses can and can't be built. Click to view UDP.

The Government has introduced major changes to the town planning system.  These will result in the gradual replacement of Local Plans and Structure Plans by Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) and Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs).  Work has started on the Sunderland LDF, which will provide guidance on development and conservation in the area up to 2016.  Find out more by contacting the Planning Policy at planningpolicy@sunderland.gov.uk or by visiting their pages here. 

Sunderland City Council is the local planning authority (LPA) that deals with all the planning applications for Sunderland, Hetton, Houghton and Washington.

What is Development Control

Development Control is the means by which development in towns and in the countryside is controlled in the public interest.  In the UK people who want to make significant changes to our environment usually need planning permission to do so.  Planning Applications are considered by the Development Control section of Development and Regeneration Services ensuring that changes are regulated, so that attractive areas are retained and enhanced or buildings are erected in the most appropriate places.  It aims to achieve the most efficient use of land whilst providing a good quality environment which is attractive, accessible, safe and sustainable.

By law local Councils must prepare a plan which sets out how they propose to manage change to the local environment. This is called a Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The plan sets a framework for planning decisions and specifies what can and cannot be built in particular areas. 

Development in Sunderland is controlled through Planning Applications which propose changes to buildings or land within the City. Each application is judged against the policies of the Sunderland Unitary Development Plan (UDP).  Decisions on planning applications are made in accordance with these policies unless material considerations such as changes in legislation or central government guidance indicate otherwise.

In making decisions on planning applications account is taken of the provisions of the Human Rights Act, 1998, section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to ensure that as far as practicable the planning function does all it can to prevent crime and disorder in the city.

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