Development control
Planning applications, planning appeals and enforcement work
The principal activities of the Development Control service involve handling planning applications, dealing with planning appeals as well as carry out enforcement work. The Development Control service also give advice and information about planning through pre-application meetings.
If you have any questions about Development Control issues, you can get in touch with us using the contacts below, or look at our FAQs section.
Contact us:
Development Control Service, Middlesbrough Council, Ground floor, Civic Centre, PO Box 504, Middlesbrough, TS1 9FY
Email: developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Tel: 01642 729377
Can I meet a planning officer to discuss a general planning issue?
If you wish to discuss a general planning issue with a Planning Officer, it is recommended that you telephone the Development Control office beforehand and arrange a meeting. The Development Control office can be contacted by telephone: 01642 729377, or by email: developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk. However, you can call in to the office and discuss a general planning issue without an appointment; Planning Officers are available each day from 9.00 to 16.30 Monday to Thursday and 09.00 to 16.00 on Friday. Please be aware however, if you do not arrange a meeting beforehand, an Officer may not be available to deal with your enquiry.
What is Permitted Development (also referred to as PD)?
The majority of dwelling houses normally have certain permitted development (PD) rights such as being able to erect extensions up to a certain size without the need for planning permission. However, if the proposed work exceeds the PD allowances then an application would always be required, whether inside or outside a 'No PD' area, and a fee would be payable. Sometimes these PD rights are removed when the Council wants to control development in a certain area. The result of the removal of PD rights means that work that would not normally require planning permission will actually require the submission of an planning application. Nevertheless, a planning fee would not be required in these cases.
Where can I view Planning Committee agendas and minutes?
Follow the link to view the Planning Committee agendas and minutes
Do I need an appointment to view plans or can I just turn up at the department?
Generally speaking, no appointment is necessary to view plans of current planning applications however, arranging a prior appointment with an officer is recommended. On the other hand, if you wish to view plans of planning applications that have been determined, a prior appointment will be necessary as these plans are not always available to be viewed during normal opening hours.
Can I speak to a planning officer by telephone?
You can telephone the Development Control office on 01642 729377 and ask for the Planning Officer you require.
Can pre-application advice be given over the telephone?
Officers are not encouraged to provide pre-application advice over the telephone. Instead, you will need to write to: Development Control Service Middlesbrough Council Ground floor, Civic Centre, PO Box 504, Middlesbrough, TS1 9FY or email: developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Whichever method you choose to contact us, please provide comprehensive details of your proposal including all measurements (a rough sketch of your proposal would be ideal), as well as stating your name, address and a contact telephone number if possible. The Planning Officer dealing with your enquiry will contact you shortly and, if necessary, will arrange an appointment for a site visit and/or pre-application meeting.
What is the fax number for the Development Control Service?
01642 729971.
How do I make an appointment for a personal search / site history?
You can telephone the Development Control office on 01642 729377 or email us at developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk to make an appointment.
How do I obtain advice on how to complete planning application forms?
You can telephone the Development Control office on 01642 729377 and ask for the Planning Officer you require.
How do I obtain copies of old plans?
Due to the copyright restrictions placed on drawings, it is always necessary to obtain approval from the drawer of the plans. Once you have this, you can write to us with the approval and relevant fee, which depends upon the size of the plans.
How do I request a copy of a planning decision notice?
To obtain a copy of a decision notice, you will need to write in requesting details enclosing payment (copies will not be issued unless payment has been received) of £12.00 for each decision notice. Customers should write to the Development Control Service, Middlesbrough Council, Ground floor, Civic Centre, PO Box 504, Middlesbrough, TS1 9FY.
How do I obtain a copy of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or discover whether a tree has a Tree Preservation Order on it? ?
Copies of TPOs are available if you telephone the department on 01642 729377. There will be a cost of £12 per TPO copy. You can call the above telephone number or email the department at developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk to enquire about TPOs and whether a specific tree has a TPO on it.
How do I make a planning application?
There are two ways to make a planning application. You can apply using paper planning application forms, or you can apply electronically via the ‘Planning Portal’. Of course, there are other items of information that you will need to collate in order to validate your application. For example, for a standard householder application for planning permission you will need to submit: i) 3 x completed and signed householder planning application forms. Along with this you will need to complete and sign the appropriate Ownership Certificate A, B, C or D (as applicable) and Agricultural Holdings Certificate. ii) 3 x location plans of the development site, showing north, to a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500. iii) 4 x existing and proposed floor plans, ideally at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100. iv) 4 x existing and proposed elevations, ideally at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100. v) Planning application fee of £150, made payable to Middlesbrough Council. Please be aware, you may be required to submit additional information to the above; this is entirely dependant on the proposed development and location. For further information on this, please visit www.planningportal.gov.uk, or click on the 'Make a planning application' section via the left side of this page.
What is the fee for my planning application?
The fee for your planning application is determined by what is proposed. For example, the fee for a standard householder planning application would be £150; the planning fee for advertisement consent or a material change of use would be £335 and the fee for a major residential development could be several thousand pounds. For further information on this, please see the Planning Fees page or telephone the Development Control office.
Is there a planning application fee if I am disabled?
If the work is to provide access and facilities for disabled persons in dwellings and buildings where the public have access then fees are exempt. For this, you will need to provide proof of the disability with your planning application.
How do I pay my planning fees?
The planning fee can be paid either in cash, by cheque, or debit/credit card payment. All cheques should be made payable to Middlesbrough Borough Council.
Can I have a refund on my planning application fee if I decide to withdraw it?
Not if the planning application has been accepted and validated. You are only entitled to a refund if the application is rejected as invalid.
What is a Design and Access Statement? (Needed with certain planning applications)
A design and access statement must accompany planning applications for both outline and full planning permissions. The elements to be described in design and access statements will be the same regardless of whether the application is for outline or full planning permission but their scope will differ. In summary, design and access statements are required for all applications except for: A material change in the use of the land or buildings; unless it also involves operational development. Engineering or mining operations. Developments of an existing dwellinghouse, or development within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse, where no part of that dwellinghouse or curtilage is within a designated area. N.B. ‘Designated area’ means National Park, SSSI, Conservation Area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Site.
What should I detail in my Design and Access Statement?
The statement should be appropriate to the scale of the proposal. For a single dwelling it is only necessary to provide a brief statement of probably no more than one page in length; where as one for a major development is likely to be more extensive and comprehensive. The design and access statement should cover both the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the proposed development and how issues relating to access to the development have been dealt with. Design and access statements for outline and detailed applications should also demonstrate how crime prevention measures have been considered in the design of the proposal and how the design reflects the attributes of safe, sustainable places set out in Safer Places - The Planning System and Crime Prevention (DCLG/Home Office 2003). The design and access statement should also explain the policy adopted in relation to access and how relevant policies in local development documents have been taken into account. The statement should also provide information on any consultation undertaken in relation to issues of access and how the outcome of this consultation has informed the development proposals. Where relevant, access for emergency services must be explained. However, you are strongly advised to consult the document 'Design and Access Statements - How to write, read and use them' by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment - The Government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space). The document can be accessed on the internet via www.cabe.org.uk.
How do I check the status of a planning application?
All information relating to planning applications, including the application’s status, can be obtained by contacting the Planning Officer dealing with the planning application.
Who is the case officer/planning officer who is dealing with my planning application?
To find out who is the planning officer dealing with a specific planning application you can call the department on 01642 729377 or you can visit the Planning Application Search section of the Council’s website.
How long does a decision usually take on a planning application?
There are Government targets, which Councils across the country aim to achieve for determining planning applications. The Council has targets to determine ‘major’ applications within 13 weeks and to determine ‘minor’ applications within 8 weeks of registering the application.
How can I view a current planning application?
Essentially, there are two methods of viewing planning applications. Firstly, plans for all current planning applications can be viewed on the Council's website. Secondly, an appointment can be arranged with the officer dealing with the specific planning application.
How do I comment on a planning application?
There are numerous ways to comment on a planning application. You can write to Development Control Service, Middlesbrough Council, Ground floor, Civic Centre, PO Box 504, Middlesbrough, TS1 9FY or you can email developmentcontrol@middlesbrough.gov.uk. Whichever method you choose, please be sure to include your name, address, contact details as well as stating your concerns and reasons for supporting or opposing a planning application. Comments should relate to relevant planning issues.
What is the length of time for commenting on or objecting to a planning application?
The consultation period for most planning applications is a statutory 3-week period. Nevertheless, to cover holidays etc, the Council usually extend the consultation period to 4 weeks.
If I wish to speak at a planning committee meeting do I have to notify anyone?
Members of the public who wish to speak at Committee meetings will have already been invited to attend by letter from the planning office. You are advised to attend early to give your name to the Committee Clerk. Those with an interest in the outcome – objectors, applicant/agent, supporters – will be allowed to speak at Committee for 5 minutes at the Chairman’s discretion. If more than one person from each party wishes to speak then they would need to elect a spokesperson. Meetings are usually held every third Friday and start at 13:30 in the Mandela Room of the Town Hall.
How can I find out about a decision on a planning application
Information relating to all recent planning applications, including the decision, can be obtained by telephoning the department on 01642 729377. Alternatively, you can visit the ‘ Weekly decision list.
If my plans are refused, can I re-submit within 12 months of the refusal notice being sent without paying another fee?
If plans are resubmitted within 12 months of the original refusal, no planning fee will be payable provided that: the proposal is generally alike; all issues regarding the initial refusal have been addressed, and the applicant and the site are the same.
How do I make a minor amendment to my approved plans? Do I need to re-apply?
Minor alterations to an already approved scheme (except exemptions) must be dealt with by submitting the necessary form and fee. You can download a 'Non-Material Amendment' form from the 'Downloadable Forms' section of this website, or from the link below where you will also find more information on Non-Material Amendments and a list of fees.
Do I have to pay a fee to have conditions discharged on my application?
Yes, the Government has recently introduced a fee to approve matters covered by conditions. This fee is £25 for a householder application, £85 for other applications. The fee is per application and there is no limit to the number of conditions that can be included in the application, provided that all the information required is ready for submission.
What is a Section 106 agreement?
This is a legally binding agreement by a developer and the Council during the process of seeking planning permission. It is used by the Council to ensure that developers pay for the off site effect of their development, for example, new traffic lights or additional landscape work.
Trees and Hedgerows
For all general information and advice on Tree works/removal or Hedgerows visit the Planning Portal. If you are wanting to carry out works to a tree or hedgerow in a conservation area an application form must be submitted prior to any works taking place.
Follow the link for a 
Schedule of all Tree Preservation Orders [92kb] in the Middlesbrough catchment area.