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Privacy Statement

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, we have a legal duty to inform you about and protect any information we collect from you. The following information is our policy at this time. This policy maybe subject to change and any changes will be an update to this page. You can remain aware of how we apply our policy to ensure your personal data is managed properly by regularly reviewing this page.

Who we are

The Planning Casework Service (PCS) is operated by the Planning Inspectorate, an executive agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The PCS is available through the Planning Portal. The Planning Portal is managed by the DCLG.

The Planning Portal has its own Privacy Policy (click on 'Privacy Policy' at the bottom of this page).

The Planning Casework Service (PCS) Privacy Policy is below.

 

Privacy Policy of The Planning Casework Service (PCS)

Websites which are accessible through links to "related sites" from the Planning Casework Service (or Planning Portal) are not covered by this privacy statement.

Disclaimer

Neither any Department of Her Majesty's Government nor any of its employees, agents or sub-contractors make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site or any website referred to. Those who access the site or any site referred to should take appropriate steps to verify all such information.

Any Department of Her Majesty's Government cannot be held responsible for the contents of any pages referred to by a link to an external website as the content is not managed or owned by us. Any reference on our sites to any persons, products, websites or services does not constitute or imply their endorsements, recommendation or favouring by any Department of Her Majesty's Government, its employees, agents or sub-contractor.

Planning Appeals and Appeal Forms.

We are committed to electronic working however at present we are not able to accept all types of appeals or representations over the internet but we are able to receive the following appeals, and related representations, relating to land in England, using the Planning Casework Service:

  • Access Restriction appeals
  • Conservation Area Consent appeals
  • Conservation Area Enforcement appeals
  • Crown Land Enforcement appeals
  • Enforcement appeals
  • Lawful Development Certificate appeals
  • Listed Building Consent appeals 
  • Listed Building Enforcement appeals
  • Planning appeals 

 

What information do we collect?

When determining an appeal, the Inspector (or the Secretary of State) receives a variety of personal information from a number of sources, including:

  • the original application, together with any documents of support or objection;
  • the appeal form together with any further documentation in support or objection;
  • local planning authorities;
  • the applicant
  • interested parties.

 

The type of personal information supplied is varied but includes:

  • contact information - your name, address, email address, telephone or mobile numbers;
  • your occupation;
  • information about your health;
  • information relating to expressed opinions or intentions in respect of a planning application or appeal.

 

Publication and Access to Information

In accordance with current statutory obligations, most of the documentation received will be made accessible to the public.

Appellants and Agents to note

This will include a copy of the original planning application form and relevant supporting documents supplied to the local authority by you or your agent, together with the completed appeal form and information you submit to the Planning Inspectorate.  The Inspectorate will publish details, on the internet (on the Appeals area of the Planning Portal).  Submissions may include your name, address, email address, phone number or signature. We do not accept anonymous submissions but you are not required to supply your signature.

Interested parties to note

The Inspectorate may publish your comments, on the internet (on the Appeals area of the Planning Portal).  Your comments may include your name, address, email address, phone number or signature.  We do not accept anonymous representations but you are not required to provide your signature.

Local authorities to note

As part of the move to e-enable services, local authorities are being asked to make information from their planning and building control registers and databases available on their websites. Guidance and information about the implications for managing personal data has been produced by The Planning and Regulatory Services Online project (PARSOL). The content has been discussed and approved by the Information Commissioner. See 'Planning and Building Control Information Online – guidance notes for practitioners' for further information.

Processing

Personal Data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act. We will:

  • Only use the information for the purpose of dealing with and considering the relevant appeal;
  • Only hold the information for as long as is reasonably necessary. For completed appeals this is usually 12 months, although we retain a copy of the Inspector’s decision indefinitely. It may be that personal information could form part of the Inspector’s decision.

 

Your responsibilities:

  • Only provide personal information if you are happy for it to be placed in the public domain, including publication on the internet through the PCS.
  • Do not include personal information about another third party (including family members) unless you have told the individual concerned and they consent to it being supplied and you can provide evidence of this consent.
  • Tell us as soon as possible if any of the personal information you have provided should change.

 

General

We collect different kinds of information or personal data that you may volunteer while using the Planning Casework Service. This information will vary depending upon which pages or services are used.

NB. In sending an email or making telephone contact asking for information or help, we may need to contact another Department or organisation to find out information to help you. We do not pass on any of your personal information when dealing with your enquiry, unless you have given us permission to do so.

Our web host puts together log files information from all visitors to our sites, we use this information to make changes to the layout of the site and the information contained within it, based on the way visitors move around it. Log files do not contain any personal information, or information about which other sites you have visited.

This privacy policy applies to the Planning Casework Service

Website Name: The Planning Casework Service.

Website Address: www.planningportal.gov.uk

Website Managed By: The Planning Inspectorate

Business Contact Address: The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

Data Controller: Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Confidentiality and Security

Correspondents should note that all communications to or from The Planning Inspectorate, National Assembly for Wales and Department for Communities and Local Government may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for lawful purposes.

We do not give visitors to our website the option of using a secure transmission method to send us their personal data. We implement security policies, rules and technical measures to protect the personal data that we have under our control from:

  • unauthorised access
  • improper use or disclosure
  • unauthorised modification
  • unlawful destruction or accidental loss

 

All our staff that have access to, and are associated with the processing of personal data, are obliged to respect the confidentiality of our visitors' personal data.

Providing users with anonymous access

You can access our website's home page and browse our sites without disclosing your personal data.

Automatic collection of information

We do not use cookies for collecting user information from the site(s). Cookies are pieces of data created when you visit a website.

  • "Cookies" are a message given to a web browser by a web server. The browser stores the message file called cookie.txt. Each time the browser requests a page from the server, this message is sent back. A cookie's main objective is to identify users and personalise their visit by customising web pages for them for example by welcoming them by name next time they visit the same site. A site using cookies will usually invite you to provide personal information such as your name, email address and interests.

 

The site(s) do not store or capture personal information, but merely logs the user's IP address which is automatically recognised by the web server.

We do not automatically log personal data nor do we link information automatically logged by other means with personal data about specific individuals.

Data Collection and Purpose Specification

We collect the personal data that you may volunteer while using our services.

We do not collect information about our visitors from other sources, such as public records or bodies, or private organisations.

If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, other than which it was originally supplied, we are required by law to ask you first.

Disclosure and visitor choice

We ensure that your personal data will not be disclosed to other institutions and authorities except if required by law or other regulation.

Your rights to access personal data

For any enquiry or concern about our privacy policy, or to request access to your personal data contact our Data Manager via:

 

We have to provide you with a readable copy of the personal data that we keep about you within 40 days. There is a statutory charge of £10. Evidence of proof of your identity will be required.

It is both in our interest and yours to hold accurate data. If the data we hold on you is inaccurate in any way, where appropriate, you may have the data:

  • erased
  • rectified or amended
  • complete

 

Dispute

We aim to ensure that we have resolved any matters satisfactorily, however if you are not satisfied with our response you may contact:

The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Switchboard: 01625 545 700

Fax: 01625 524 510

DX: 20819 Wilmslow

Website: http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/

Email: mail@dataprotection.gov.uk

Glossary of terms

Browser

A software application used to locate and display web pages.

Cookie

Message given to a web browser by a web server. The browser in a text file called cookie.txt then stores the message. Each time the browser requests a page from the server, this message is sent back. A cookie's main objective is to identify users and personalise their visit by customising web pages for them for example by welcoming them by name next time they visit the same site. A site using cookies will usually invite you to provide personal information such as your name, email address and interests.

IP (Internet Protocol)

All networks connected to the internet communicate via IP, the technical standard that allows data to be transmitted between two host computers. TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is responsible for making sure messages get from one host to another and that the messages are understood.

IP address

If you are connected to the internet you have one, for example it may look something like this http://198.184.98.9

Web Server

Delivers (serves up) web pages to your computer