The Government has announced that the power to extend the time limits for existing full planning permissions will apply to all eligible consents and not just those for major development.

That clarification has come in a letter from Steve Quartermain, Communities and Local Government chief planner, to chief planning officers in England.

The letter confirms that the new arrangements will come into force on 1 October and will cover both listed building and conservation area consents.

The changes will cover planning permissions which are extant both on 1 October and at the date of application and have not yet commenced.

Outline permissions can also be extended under this power, CLG has decided, provided they are extant both on 1 October and at the date of application, and have not yet commenced.

The department will publish updated guidance in early October.

It has also revealed that it is proposing different charges than consulted on earlier this year. CLG’s revised proposals are: £500 for major developments, £50 for householder developments and £170 for other sizes of development. Parliamentary approval is needed for the new charges.

Draft application forms are available for view on the Planning Portal and final versions will be available for use on 1 October.

Read Steve Quartermain’s letter to Chief Planning Officers.

The above was taken from the Planning Portal news roundup 24^th September 2009