Planning

Barton Parish Council Planning Process
Barton Parish Council (BPC) are consulted by Greater Cambridge Planning on all planning applications that impact our village (on behalf of South Cambridgeshire District Council). Any views expressed by BPC  will be taken into account by SCDC planning before a decision is made. Our Councillors look at all Barton applications, some of which may need a site visit. BPC may also call a Public Meeting to discuss any significant issues or causes for concern.

Planning applications are examined against a set criteria, and BPC can only comment on what are known as material considerations (see examples below table). These comments have to be discussed and approved at public meetings such as the regular BPC meetings. The final decision is made by the Planning Authority not the Parish Council, in our case Greater Cambridge Planning on behlaf of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

If anyone wants to see copies of applications, please contact our Clerk.

Examples of material considerations

The Development Plan and any review of the Development Plan which is underway.

• Adopted supplementary guidance – for example, village design statements, conservation area appraisals, car parking standards.
• Replies from statutory and non-statutory agencies (e.g. Environment Agency, Highways Authority).
• Representations from others – neighbours, amenity groups and other interested parties so long as they relate to land use matters.
• Effects on an area – this includes the character of an area, availability of infrastructure, density, over-development, layout, position, design and external appearance of buildings and landscaping
• The need to safeguard valuable resources such as good farmland or mineral reserves.
• Highway safety issues – such as traffic generation, road capacity, means of access, visibility, car parking and effects on pedestrians and cyclists.
• Public services – such as drainage and water supply
• Public proposals for using the same land
• Effects on individual buildings – such as overlooking, loss of light, overshadowing, visual intrusion, noise, disturbance and smell.
• Effects on a specially designated area or building – such as green belt, conservation areas, listed buildings, ancient monuments and areas of special scientific interest.
• Effects on existing tree cover and hedgerows.
• Nature conservation interests – such as protection of badgers, great crested newts etc.
• Public rights of way
• Flooding or pollution.
• Planning history of the site – including existing permissions and appeal deciThe sions.
• A desire to retain or promote certain uses – such as playing fields, village shops and pubs.
• Need for the development – such as a petrol station
• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Presence of a hazardous substance directly associated with a development
• Human Rights Act