Forum Topic

Ealing Planning.. is it broken?

We've been waiting for some feedback on a planning application from Ealing planning team almost 6 months now, but have found it literally impossible to contact them to chase it up.The application was submitted in February, some questions came back, our architect answered them almost immediately...  since then nothing. Calls go unanswered, web forms dissappear into the ether, nada, zilch, total radio silence. A call to the main switchboard at Ealing Council to try and get around this was answered by a receptionist who'd clearly given up even trying to defend the planning team - saying "there's nothing I can suggest, no-one I can put you through to who might pick up a phone.. your only hope is maybe to come in and sit and wait in reception all day until someone comes out to see you?" So... I even tried doing that ... off to Perceval House I went earlier this week, only to find that there is a security guard on the door turning literally everyone away, and telling us all "Ths building has been efectively closed for 2 years ever since Covid - everyone now works from home, the only thing that happens in here is the registry of Births and Deaths, go away" Has the planning team ceased to function?   Or even ceased to exist entirely?Is Perceval House a ghost town devoid of all life? What on earth is going on!

Tim Porter ● 1494d13 Comments

Civil servants need to get back into the office, when selecting an architect make sure they have a relationship with the planning office doesn’t help you now but lesson for the future. We waited a year to be fair we are grade 11 listed so had even more hoops to jump through but architect sorted it in the end

Jayne Thorburn ● 1493d

Local council employees are NOT civil servants, people who work for the government agencies are, and they are actually Crown employees. All very well demanding they get back in their offices - what a pity government ministers were so, so shy about disclosing whether or not they were actually going into the office too! Generally speaking councils have six weeks to determine a planning application, after that you can appeal on the grounds of non determination.

Vanessa Smith ● 1493d

Seek help perhaps from the Local Authority Association  at 18 Smith Square.SW1 P 3HZ.Suggest that Ealing requires "Special  Measures"Copy in lots of officers. Stir the stagnant porridge!

Jim Lawes ● 1493d

When I had a similar problem with the planning department at Ealing I contacted one of my local councillors, who got the communication channels opened very quickly. Caveat - this was 10 years ago.

Simon Tranter ● 1492d

Many planning departments are in a similar 'state', indeed some are taking months simply to register applications - my current record is Liverpool who took 13 weeks to register an application, but I've had numerous other authorities (e.g Bromley or Bexley, to name just two), take 6-8 weeks just to register an application.So it's not just an Ealing issue, but nationwide.  As Vanessa says in the case of 'minor' planning applications LPA's have 8 weeks from the date of receiving a valid application to determine it, but there are no consequences if they fail to do so.  An applicant then has the right of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate for 'non-determination', but with appeals typically taking 7-8 months  (at least) to be determined that's not exactly an attractive alternative.  In some circumstances (although it doesn't necessarily get you a decision any quicker but can sometimes provide 'leverage') you can insist upon the LPA refunding you the statutory application fees, which is a power I am increasingly using, although it seems many professionals in the business (both applicants and Councils) are completely unaware of that right.I would concur with the advice about trying to ask a local councillor for intervention.  Some LPA's are being more transparent than others about their backlogs, some do at least have notices on their website explaining that applications are taking x weeks longer normal to progress etc, others are saying nothing (I know that Officers from Ealing are still telling people that their applications should be determined within 8 weeks, which is total nonsense).I honestly don't know the actual reason why the system is now more broken (in terms of timescales for decision making) than ever before.  The statistics show that the number of planning applications being submitted nationally has declined this year.  I've read that authorities are claiming that there's a shortage of planning professionals - I'm purely speculating but in my experience many LPA's have always relied on a considerable number of antipodean staff, so perhaps with covid preventing such staff coming over to the UK there simply isn't enough planners coming through the UK university system.

Adam Beamish ● 1491d

Yes, it's nationwide.  We would go the Councillor route as well.  It is a part of a Councillor's job to intercede with the Council on your behalf if you are having problems.

Philippa Bond ● 1491d

It's the whole of Ealing that is broken with the current Muppets in charge

Peter King ● 1491d

Broken Britain more like.

Philippa Bond ● 1491d

We're talking locally Phillipa, do keep up!

Peter King ● 1490d

No, Peter - there is a bigger picture and there are problems with planning all over the country and it is not just with planning.  You need to read the thread not just the headline.  Trying to deny it or close the discussion doesn't change the reality of the situation.

Philippa Bond ● 1490d

My recent experience suggests Hounslow planning have similar problems. I submitted a very simple application in early Feb and got approval in July.

Roger Francis ● 1490d

Calm down dear, you'll get your chance in 2024. An x for the dull gynaecologist Sir Kear or 'I'll stay in the cupboard until there's another mid term election' Sir Ed.

Peter King ● 1490d

we've had the same challenges here with Merton Council, it has taken about 4 months to get any feedback, finally submitted but very worrysome. London wide shortage of staff.

J Kim ● 1481d