Useful Links :

For information and advice on whether you need to obtain planning permission for works to your property, visit the Planning Portal 

To report a suspected breach of planning control please see Hart District Council's enforcement page Click Here

For information on whether you need consent to undertake works to trees at your property Click Here

How the Parish Council is involved in the planning process.

The Parish Council has no executive powers in deciding planning applications - this is the prerogative of Hart District Council, which is the Planning Authority.  However, it is mandatory for the Planning Authority to consult the Parish Council on all applications in its area.  The Parish Council can then comment as it sees fit on any application; however, the Planning Authority can disregard these comments if it considers them to be inappropriate.

When considering planning applications, Hartley Wintney Parish Council views proposals holistically; how will it impact on the whole community rather than only the adjacent properties; it does not represent only the views of neighbouring residents.

Neighbours who may be directly affected by a proposal are advised of the planning application and therefore have the opportunity to appraise the planning authority of their objections and can lobby their Ward District Councillors on the matter; the Parish Council however believes it has to represent the view of all its parishioners.

Notwithstanding the above, the Parish Council will consider the views of neighbouring residents if these are received before it considers the application, or if representation received after it has submitted its response materially changes its view on a proposal and its impact on the whole community.

There are exceptions, particularly when new properties are proposed; it may set a precedent or could be contrary to the Local Plan; there may be specific local problems which could be exacerbated by the proposal and while these may not impact on the whole village, it is important to apprise the planning authority of these matters.

When “adjoining parish” consultations are received, the Parish Council will again consider how it will impact on the village of Hartley Wintney and not the parish in which the proposal is located.  Although it may choose to seek advice from the adjoining parish regarding its views on an application, it is not required to endorse the view of that authority.  This does not preclude individual members from submitting their views.

The Parish Council will not comment on planning proposals remote from the parish unless it believes will have a direct impact on the community.  Again, this does not preclude individual members from submitting their views.

The Parish Council is completely objective and any councillor who lives close to an application will refrain from passing comment upon it as they may have either a personal or prejudicial interest in the outcome of that application. Councillors take objections to planning applications very seriously and they are not made without good cause which must be grounded in planning law. Applicants have a basic right to expect that when they submit a planning application that it will be approved unless there is justifiable grounds to refuse it ( not the other way round) Whether councillors like an application or not is irrelevant.

HART DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN (REPLACEMENT) 1996 - 2006 

All planning applications for development have to be judged against the policies of the local plan. It is very important in setting out the overall distribution of land uses but is also central to every planning application which is submitted in the district. Click here view the Local Plan.

CONSERVATION AREA

Parts of the parish of Hartley Wintney are designated as Conservation Areas. This is defined in law as “an area of special architectural or historic interest the character of which it is desirable to preserve and enhance”. If you own a property in the Conservation Area you will need to apply for permission or give notification to do certain work to your building and to trees.

This work includes

• demolition
• new development
• change of use
• advertisements
• works to listed buildings

To view the Conservation Area map click here