PLANNING HISTORY SEARCHES

We can research the history of a property and provide you with a schedule detailing the planning applications that have been made since a specified date for a fee.  Please see our  Schedule of Fees.    We usually provide this information back to 1974, although requests for history since 1948 and up to 1974 can be undertaken for a further charge.

To enable us to identify the extent of the property, we require a site location plan at a scale of 1:1250 hatching the area to be searched, together with your cheque made payable to Exmoor National Park Authority.  We need payment and map at the time of the request and before the research is undertaken.

Please see our Schedule of Fees for Current Rates.

Please contact us if you want us to carry out a planning history search for you:

By Post: Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton TA22 9HL

By Email: plan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

By Phone: 01398 323665

By Fax: 01398 323150

(Payment will need to be made before search undertaken)

PERSONAL SEARCHES

Alternatively, you can carry out your own personal search by viewing the Planning Registers and other records open for public inspection including Registers of Enforcement Notices, Stop Notices and Breaches of Condition Notices etc.  No charge will be made for this service.  You will need to make an appointment prior to visiting the office giving at least 2 days notice.

The Exmoor National Park Local Plan 2001 – 2011 (including minerals and waste policies), The Somerset and Exmoor National Park Authority Joint Structure Plan and the Local Development Framework can be made available to you on your visit to the Planning Office.  Alternatively these documents can be viewed on our website http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/living_in/planning.htm.

Whilst authority staff will provide access to the relevant records, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the search to identify relevant information from those records and make notes.  Local authority staff may offer factual clarification of what is in the record open to public inspection but are under no obligation to answer any supplementary or additional enquiries when a personal search is made.

ON LINE ACCESS TO PLANNING HISTORIES

Since 2001 it is possible to view some details of applications on-line,. Go to http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/living_in/planning.htm and follow links.

This service is constantly being developed with individual historical data being entered virtually on a daily basis.  It is therefore not a comprehensive system at the moment and cannot be relied upon.

ON LINE ACCESS TO CONSTRAINTS

This service is not currently available through our website

HOME INFORMATION PACKS

The introduction of the new HIP in line with Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 was commenced on 1^st August 2007.  Please refer to www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk for further information.

COMPLETION OF CON 29 FORMS

We undertake completion of parts of the Con 29 Part 1 and Part 2 forms primarily for the two district councils within the Exmoor National Park area.  (CON is from CONveyancing, and 29is the form number).  The district councils also complete their parts and completed form is returned to the conveyancer/solicitor.  Please contact the councils direct for further information:

For West Somerset Area:

By Post: Local Land Charges

West Somerset Council

Fore Street

Williton

Taunton

TA4 4QA

By Emai:l landcharges@westsomerset.gov.uk

DX 117701 Willliton

By Phone Direct Line: 01984 635274

Customer Services: 01643 703704

For North Devon Area:

By Post: North Devon District Council

By email: landcharges@northdevon.gov.uk

By Phone: 01271 388406

LAND OWNERSHIP

This Authority does not hold information regarding land ownership.  However, you will be able to obtain such information from:-

By Post Land Registry Plymouth

Plumer Ho

Tallyour Rd

Plymouth PL6 5HY

By Phone: 01752 636000

Or visit the Land Registry website at www.landregistry.gov.uk

They will usually make a charge for this service.

ACCESS TO COPY CERTIFICATES, SECTION 106 CERTIFICATES, ENFORCEMENT NOTICES, BREACH OF CONDITION NOTICES

Requests for copy certificates can be made by forwarding your cheque and posting to Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL.  Full payment must be made before copies are despatched/emailed/faxed.

For applications determined since December 2004, it is possible to download copy certificates from our website (www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk) by following the links to the Planning Application section and inserting the application number and clicking on decision.  No charge is payable for this service.

ACCESS TO COPY PLANS

Copyright Notice

Plans, drawings and material submitted to the National Park Authority are protected by the Copyrights Act (Section 47, 1988 Act).  You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed for consultation purposes, to compare current applications with previous schemes and to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans.  Further copies must not be made without prior permission of the copyright.

For drawings to be printed from planning file, we need evidence in the form of letter from copyright holder giving their permission to waive copyright.

IMPROVEMENTS

Constant developments and improvements are being made regularly regarding the digitisation of information to enable better public access.  Please check with our website or office Tel 01398 323665 before arranging payment of our services; you may be able to undertake the service yourself, for free!

SEARCH RETURN PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Response times for searches returned between 1st April 05 and 31st March 06 =

Total No of searches 389 with 77% returned within 3 days

Response times for searches returned between 1st April 06 and 31st March 07 =

Total No of searches 448 with 82% returned within 3 days

Response times for searches returned between 1st April 07 and 31st March 08 =

Total No of searches 431 with 11% returned within 3 days

LEVEL OF SERVICE – PLANNING HISTORY SEARCHES

1. We aim to answer the telephone within 5 rings
2. We aim to answer letters within 3 working days
3. We aim to reply to telephone messages/emails within 2 working days
4. We will not return property search/cheque unless there is something substantially wrong with it, ie payee details wrong
5. We aim to supply copy certificates within 3 working days from reciept of cheque and accompanying request
6. We aim to allow public access to registers within 2 working days of their request.
7. We aim to respond to planning history searches within 2 working days of receipt of cheque and location plan (at scale of 1:1250), indicating extend of property
8. We aim to treat all customers/service users fair and equal
9. We aim to foster smooth working relationships between planning history staff, Districts and personal search staff.

NORMAL OFFICE HOURS

Normally a dedicated member of staff is available during the following times:

9.30am-12.00

2.00 pm-4.00pm

Monday – Friday

SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS

If you have any suggestions or comments regarding these pages please contact Planning Office Manager

By Post Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, TA22 9HL

By Email smcottrell@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

By Telephone 01398 323665

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Should you have any complains please contact in the first instance Planning Office Manager

By Post: Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, TA22 9HL

By Email: smcottrell@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

By Telephone: 01398 323665

Alternatively, please contact The Chief Executive, Dr N Stone

By Post: Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, TA22 9HL

By Email: nmstone@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

By Telephone: 01398 323665

CONTACT DETAILS AND FURTHER INFORMATION

By Post: Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL

By Email: plan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

By Telephone: 01398 323665

We aim to follow Good Practice Guidance for Local Authorities and Personal Searchers which can be found at www.communities.gov.uk

SCHEDULE OF FEES

• Planning
  • Application Search
  • Applications Forms
  • Appeals
  • Enforcement
  • Listed Buildings
  • Local Plan
  • Local development Framework
  • Structure Plan
• Reports
• Sustainability
• Application Forms