"Less local opposition if applications are submitted just before the Christmas holidays."Simply not true. Firstly, many LPA's are currently taking several weeks if not months (my current record is 13 weeks) to register planning applications, so were any applicants minded to submit as 'tactically' as you suggest then it would be very hard in the current climate to know when was best to submit the application.Secondly many LPA's purposely extend the statutory consultation period if an application is registered just before Christmas to specifically take account of that, so even if an application is registered just before Christmas a 21 day statutory consultation period becomes a 28 day consultation period. People also don't realise that an LPA is duty bound to take into consideration any representation that is received right up to the date of determination, it is not the case that if a representation is lodged after the statutory consultation period then that representation carries less or no weight.Thirdly do you really think applicants plan their submissions in the hope to minimise objections from third parties ? - stressing that the number of third party objections isn't a material planning consideration. Developers and planning consultants wouldn't work in this line of business if they were 'put off' by objections from local residents/didn't want to 'upset' people, and certainly I've never been 'afraid' of leading on projects which have attracted upwards of 300 third party objections, to me its part and parcel of the business.
Adam Beamish ● 1743d