Development Control
We are responsible for processing applications made under the Town and Country Planning Acts. We regulate the development and use of land to ensure that it accords with Unitary Development Plan policies, enforce against breaches of planning control and maintain records and registers of development. We aim to protect and improve the environment, achieve high standards of design and support the economic regeneration of Bexley.
If you intend to carry out development in Bexley, it is likely that you will need to submit applications to both Development Control (Planning related Applications) and Building Control (Building Regulations related applications). It is important that you obtain all necessary permissions before carrying out any work as this may prevent costly alterations, particularly if any of your applications are rejected.
Planning Portal
 A good source of information on all aspects of the planning process is the  Planning Portal, part of the common vision for improving the planning process in England and Wales. The Planning Portal provides guidance and information about making planning applications, as well as resources for study and research.
The main parts of the Planning Portal are:
Guide to the Planning Process - offers a brief introduction to the planning system and some explanation of what planning is for and why it is important; intended for both householders and business people it explains why planning controls are necessary and how decisions are made.
Make a Planning Application - create a planning application and send it electronically along with any attachments, or complete the forms on your computer then print and send them by post as part of a traditional paper application. You can also use the on-line applications service to produce a site location plan to accompany your application and pay the appropriate application fee.
Appeal -
advice and guidance on the making and progress of planning and enforcement appeals. You
can see a summary of the progress of an appeal case including its current status
by using the Council’s Public Access on-line enquiry facility.
Study - if you're interested in a career in planning or want to learn about town and country planning at all levels and in all types of education.
Research - gives access to local government reports, guidance and notes for all professional planners, lawyers, students, academics and others.
See also Planning Application Forms.
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PublicAccess for Planning Applications,
Enforcements and Appeals
PublicAccess for planning is an Internet service that allows you
to view details of planning applications (Development Control) currently being
considered by Bexley Council, as well as a history of past planning applications
submitted since July 1987. You can monitor the progress of an application and
make comments while it is being considered.
You can also look at details of enforcement enquiries received as well as
any appeals made against decisions made on planning applications and enforcement
cases.
You can view Weekly Lists of applications received or decisions made, up to
the day of your search. Applications may also be retrieved by reference number
or address or postcode or street or by clicking on a location on a map.
 To
use the PublicAccess service...
Paper copies of weekly lists of applications registered during the past week
are sent to Councillors and placed in local libraries. An electronic version
of the weekly
list of registered applications is regularly updated and lists
for the previous two weeks are also available.
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Do I Need Permission?
Planning permission will normally be required for most building works such as the erection of new buildings, extensions to existing buildings and changes in the use of land or buildings. However, certain minor works such as a small house extension, garden walls or fences and some satellite dishes may not require permission as they are considered to be "permitted development". If you believe that your proposal does not require planning permission but would like confirmation (to attach to the Deeds of your property or for loan requests) then you can make an application for a Lawful Development Certificate. An application can also be made in respect of existing building works or uses where confirmation of its lawfulness under planning law is required. Lawful Development Certificates Explained.
There are other types of approval that may be required, particularly if the property is in a Conservation Area, or is a Listed Building. For further information, details of Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings within Bexley Council's area and application forms, please visit the Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings section. In addition, for most outdoor advertisements and signs Advertisement Consent will be required. Some parts of the Old Bexley Conservation Area are designated as Areas of Special Control of Advertisements. To find out which premises are affected, see the ASCA in Bexley page.
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Pre Application Advice
Before making any formal planning application it is often advisable to discuss your proposal with us. The Council now provides a Pre-Planning Application Advice Service. Under this new scheme charges apply for some development proposals. Householder extensions are exempt from pre-application charges. Details of this service can be accessed via the link below. You can also access a number of other guides that the Council has produced via the relevant links below.
Pre-Planning Application Advice Service
Major Applications Guide, for major schemes
 Developers
Guide to Planning Applications and Land Contamination - Helping You to Get it
Right (418KB, PDF file), applications and land contamination
Planning and Your Business (253KB, PDF file), for smaller schemes of a commercial or business nature
Plan to Succeed (591KB, PDF file), for householders.
Solar Panel and Wind Turbine Guidance Leaflet (409KB, PDF file)
Smoking Shelters and other features for businesses
In addition to the above, your attention is drawn to The Party Wall Act 1996, which affects anyone intending to carry out building work that involves one or more of the following:
- Work on an existing wall or structure shared with another property
- Building a free standing wall or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary with a neighbouring property
- Excavating near a neighbouring building
Communities and Local Government produces a number of guidance booklets to outline the types of development that require approval:
Planning:
A Guide for Householders
Installation of Satellite Television Dishes: A Guide for Householders
Planning Permission: A Guide for Businesses
Outdoor advertisements and signs: A Guide for Advertisers
Copies of these can also be obtained either by telephoning us on 020 8308 7877 or by e-mail to wyncham.reception@bexley.gov.uk.
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General Planning Advice
If you wish to contact us about a general issue please telephone the Development Control Administration Team on 020 8308 7992 or e-mail developmentcontrol@bexley.gov.uk.
The Council has also produced a document outlining issues
that should be considered once planning permission has been granted. These
include encroachment, construction noise and dust, site safety, etc. A copy
of this information sheet can be downloaded here. Construction
Site Issues (495KB, PDF File)
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Wyncham House Reception
A planning reception service is available at the Wyncham House Offices in Longlands Road Sidcup, open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm for all general planning and development enquiries. You can also research planning history and view plans on submitted applications and we can deal with any Building Control, Land Charges and Planning Policy enquiries you may have.
If you wish to research specific property history you should contact the Customer Services team in advance to ensure all the information you require will be available. Contact can be made either in person at the Customer Services Reception, by telephone on 020 8308 7877, or by e-mail to wyncham.reception@bexley.gov.uk. Please note that at peak times the reception can be extremely busy, therefore if your enquiry is of a complicated nature or you wish to research more than one site we ask that you give 24 hours notice. A charge is made for the production of decision notices, plan copying and history searches, etc.
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Duty Planning Officer
A Duty Planning Officer is available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (including 5pm to 7pm on Tuesdays for personal callers to the Wyncham House reception only) to answer planning related queries. This may include permitted development enquiries, questions about current planning applications or straightforward pre-application discussions. The duty planning officers will do all they can to help but please remember that the service is not designed to provide detailed advice, which should be done, where necessary, by appointment directly with our planning officers. The Duty Planning Officer operates on a rota system and you may be seen by a different person from day to day.
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Planning Aid Service
Planning Aid is a voluntary service offering free, independent and professional advice on town planning matters to community groups and individuals who cannot afford to employ a planning consultant. It aims to give people the confidence to help themselves and to become involved in planning issues. Planning Aid is not part of Bexley Council, it is a separate service that complements the advice given by Local Planning Authorities.
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Working Towards Inclusive Design
Inclusive designs are socially considerate and increasingly in demand. They:
- Avoid introducing barriers to safe or easy movement by the occupants of a building;
- Help to maximise the mobility of those of us who face difficulties in getting around;
- Eliminate the risks of occupiers being accused of discriminatory practice; and
- Reduce the risks of trips or accidents
The issues straddle the boundaries between Environmental Health, Planning and Building Control and the Government suggests in their good practice guide that access matters should be actively considered from the earliest stage in the design process. This approach should avoid costly alterations to your designs between the stages of Planning and Building Control approval, or thereafter. Accessible buildings should be easier to let to a broad range of users.
Be aware that the need to comply with Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act came into force on 1st October 2004, and that aspects of Part M of the Building Regulations altered on 1st May 2004. The new regulations can be bought from The Stationery Office for £12.
If you're not sure how house designs are evolving to meet the new expectations, you may also wish to visit the Lifetime Homes web site for further information.
The London Plan (pages 58 and 59) encourages the design of Lifetime Homes right across the capital, they are configured to make the fitting of a lift or stairlift relatively simple by any future householder and have several other common sense features that have been proven to work by several housing associations.
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