Current workloads - information for applicants - updated 5 April 2023

We are sorry for delays you may be experiencing in our processing of your application. We currently have a backlog of applications built up over the last couple of years most notably. We are making some progress, but workloads remain challenging.  In the meantime, you can track the progress of the application and see any documents we receive on our website: www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planningonline

In some cases we will be able to determine an application more quickly if a site visit is not required, so we also encourage you to supply a comprehensive set of current photographs of the site.

The average time taken to determine an application for cases determined recently has been around 22 weeks.

We are aware that the government expects non-major applications to be determined within 8 weeks, and apologise that we are currently unable to meet this requirement.  If the target date has passed and we have not agreed an extension of time with you in writing, you are able to lodge a ‘non-determination’ appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.  Please be aware, however, that once an appeal has been lodged, the Planning Inspectorate will become the determining body and the LPA will no longer able to determine your application.  You can check how long appeals are taking at the present time at the following link: Appeals: how long they take - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In February 2023 the Planning Inspectorate were taking an average of 21 weeks from validation to determine Householder appeals with other types of written representation appeals taking an average of 35 weeks.

Once the application has been allocated the case officer will make contact with the agent for the application (or the applicant in the absence of an agent) and will give an estimate of when they may be able to make a recommendation on the application and to ask you to agree a revised target for determination.  It will be difficult to estimate how long each application will take to determine until it has been fully reviewed by a case officer.