This tells you what standards of service you can expect from us and how to give us feedback on our performance.
Our services
- Advice on disabled access and special needs issues
- Providing planning policy advice
- Dealing with planning applications
- Taking action against unauthorised development
- Developing policies and plans for future land use and development in the District
- Taking action to protect and conserve the natural and historic environment
We aim to:
- Balance the need to protect and enhance the local environment with making provision for sustainable development to meet the social and economic needs of the District
- Offer a speedy and efficient service to all our customers, including those with specific needs
Our commitment to customers
- To provide good value, efficient and effective services to all our customers
- To provide services that everyone can use and to make our premises and information as accessible as possible
- To ensure our premises are clean, comfortable, smoke-free and well signposted
- To treat everyone fairly and respect their privacy
- To be open, honest and accountable for our actions
- To consult and listen to our customers
- To strive for continuous improvement in our services and processes
General Standards
Our staff will:
- Be helpful, polite and professional when dealing with customers
- Wear name badges when dealing with customers
- Provide a private interview room if requested
- Arrange a convenient date and time for meetings or appointments
- Show an official identity badge without being asked if they need to make a home visit
- Try to deal with your enquiry or complaint straight away. If the person you need to speak to is not there, they will contact you as soon as possible
- Answer the phone within 20 seconds and return phone messages within 1 working day
- When we need to use answer phones, messages will be checked regularly
- Answer your letter, fax or email within 7 working days using plain English and avoiding jargon. If the response is likely to take longer an acknowledgement will be sent confirming when you can expect a reply
- Apologise if we are at fault and do their best to put things right
- Respond to Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days
Our information will be:
- Clear, up to date and accurate
- Available in a range of formats and languages on request
Planning General
We will:
- Provide regular planning surgeries at Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe (on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month)
- Work to improve the quality of service through the Planning Services User Group
- Publish information on our performance in our planning reception and on the website.
- Deal with most visitors to our Planning Information Desk within 5 minutes of their arrival
Planning policy
We will:
- Consult and engage with local communities to draw up a Local Development Framework which sets out plans and policies for the future land use and development of the District
- Represent the interests of the District in relation to national, regional and County-wide planning policy
Planning applications
We will:
- Determine most major planning applications within 13 weeks
- Determine most minor/other planning applications within 8 weeks
- Consult on planning applications with the public, towna nd parish councils and other consultees in accordance with our published Code of Practice
- Take into account all relevant policies and the views of interested parties in trying to achieve the best possible development scheme
- Make planning decisions in an open, fair and impartial way, in line with our agreed Code of Conduct
- Allow applicants and people affected by an application the opportunity to put their views in person to the Planning Applications Committee
- Acknowledge receipt of all valid planning applications and assign to a case officer within 5 days
- Issue a decision notice on the same day that a decision is made
Unauthorised development
We will:
- Inspect sites within 5 working days of a report being made to us
- Resolve breaches of planning control within 6 months
Conservation
We will:
- Determine most applications for works to protected trees within 8 weeks
- Consult town and parish concils in carrying out Conseravtion Area Appraisals which affect their area
What do you think?
We are always looking for ways to improve our services and are keen to hear our customers' views.
Write to us or visit our offices:
PO Box 2707
Southover House
Southover Road
Lewes BN7 1AB
We are open Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5pm and until 4.30pm on Friday
Telephone us:
01273 471600
Minicom - 01273 484488
Fax us:
01273 484452
Email us:
planning@lewes.gov.uk
Visit our Planning web pages:
www.lewes.gov.uk/environment/611.asp
Would you like this information in another format?
This information can be made available in printed format, large print, on audio tape or disk or in another language upon request. Please contact us on 01273 484141 or email: lewesdc@lewes.gov.uk
