Who Does What?

The applicant is the person or organisation putting forward the proposal. It is usually advisable for applicants to discuss their ideas informally at an early stage with any affected neighbours. The applicant is responsible for implementing the project in accordance with the planning permission and any conditions attached to it by the planning authority. Applicants also decide, with the help of any advisers they may have, whether to appeal against a refusal.

The local planning authority receives and processes the application. It notifies neighbours and makes the application available for public inspection, taking due account of all comments received. Planners working for local planning authorities may have powers delegated to them to decide minor matters themselves. Otherwise they present a recommended decision to the Planning Committee, which is made up of elected councillors. The councillors make the decision. They do not always follow their officers’ advice.

National Assembly. Proposals which, in the view of the Assembly, raise issues of more than local importance may occasionally be ‘called in’ so that the National Assembly can decide them. The National Assembly may also recover jurisdiction over an appeal if it considers the issues it raises in the appeal warrant such action. A planning decision committee of the Assembly will then take the decision after considering the Inspector's report.

Other organisations. Certain national organisations with special environmental expertise, such as the Countryside Council for Wales and Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments), have the right to be consulted about planning applications on which they are likely to have a view. Local planning authorities also sometimes consult a local organisation, such as a civic society, though they are not obliged to do so by law.