Referred Applications
These are referred to the Government Office by a local council if they grant planning permission to an application which falls under one of the following Directions. They are considered within a 21-day timescale but an Article 14 holding direction can be issued, preventing the council issuing planning permission, if further time is required.
Requests to Call in Planning Applications
In addition, anyone can ask the Secretary of State to call-in an application, to which the local council intends to grant consent. A written request for the Secretary of State to intervene must be made to the Government Office before a planning decision is issued by the council, and ideally as early as possible before an application is considered by the council's committee or delegated officers.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) (Departures) Direction 1999 (Circular 07/99) An application for development which does not accord with policies in the local council's development plan. In certain circumstances, these must be referred to the Secretary of State.
Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 (Circular 09/98) Applies to certain applications to which Sport England has an outstanding objection.
Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development)(England and Wales)(No 2) Direction 1993 (Circular 15/93) Applies to some retail planning applications
The Town and Country Planning (Green Belt) Direction 2005 (Circular 11/05) Applies to some applications involving development in the Green Belt.
