Planning - Wychavon District Council

South Worcestershire Playing Pitch Strategy

The pdf South Worcestershire Playing Pitch Strategy (1.25 MB) presents an overall framework for the future provision of playing fields across South Worcestershire.

It draws upon the issues identified within separate assessment reports for Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District and sets out the priorities for the delivery of playing pitches for football, rugby, cricket and hockey up to 2030.

It updates the strategies produced in 2010 for each authority. These documents have been successfully used to negotiate public open space section 106 contributions with developers, to negotiate and apply provision at the major growth sites in the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan and to inform the requirements from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The strategy will also be used by the respective National Governing Bodies of Sport to focus any potential grant investment.

This new strategy seeks to build on the successes of these documents and to ensure that the right facilities are in the right place to meet current and projected future demand. The strategy seeks to support the three Councils and their partners in the creation of:

"a high quality sporting infrastructure that meets the current and projected future needs of players at all levels and promotes participation and physical activity".

It seeks to deliver the following objectives:

Protect existing playing fields.
Enhance existing playing pitches and tailor them to the requirements of users of the facilities.
Provide new playing pitches that are fit for purpose to meet current & future need.

The pdf Wychavon Sports Facility Strategy 2015-2030 (3.50 MB) covers the Wychavon area and accompanies the Council's Playing Pitch Strategy and these documents together, developed using the up-to-date Sport England methodologies, provide the Council with a robust evidence base and set of strategic priorities to direct future sports planning policy and funding in the context of growth.

Planning Appeals

Sometimes the Council's decision on a planning application can lead to an appeal. Appeals can be made for a number of reasons, but most are made because the Council has refused planning permission.

Only the person who made the application for planning permission can make an appeal. If you are an applicant whose planning permission has been refused we would always encourage you first to contact your planning officer to discuss whether the scheme can be amended in any way to make it acceptable with a new application.

Make an appeal

Appeals must be made direct to the Planning Inspectorate. For guidance on each type of appeal procedure and to make an appeal, please visit the Planning Inspectorate section on GOV.UK:

Planning Inspectorate

For information on the appeals process including how to make and comment on an appeal, visit the Planning Portal:

Planning Portal

Visit the Search for a planning application to view the appeals received and to search the planning application files.

Planning Committee and Meetings

Determining planning applications

How does the planning committee process work?

Decisions on most planning applications are made by officers under "delegated powers". Some major, complex or controversial applications may be decided by the Planning Committee, in line with the Scheme of Delegation:

Scheme of Delegation and Recommendations from the Executive Board Agenda Supplement for Council, on 23/02/2022

Committee Details

The Planning Committee meets every four weeks and has 15 members. It decides planning applications in accordance with agreed policies and enforces planning decisions when these are not complied with.

You will normally be able to view a copy of the report to Committee one week before the meeting. The minutes are then normally available one week after the meeting.

Read the pdf Guide to the planning committee process (446 KB) document, for further information on the process.

Browse agendas and meetings

These meetings are broadcast live on our YouTube page

View meeting livestreams

pdf Read the agenda pack (1.18 MB)

Representations

We will try and ensure that all comments received relating to a planning application are reported, where relevant, to the Council's Planning Committee. However, any submissions received after 12 noon on the day before Planning Committee will not be included on the Planning Committee update sheet. Also, it may not be possible to report to the Planning Committee comments, letters or emails received on the day of the committee meeting. We strongly recommend you do not submit comments or documents close to the start of Planning Committee meetings.

Public Speaking

If you wish to speak at a Planning Committee meeting, please complete the online form to register - WDC Public Speaking at Planning Committee Registration Form – Fill in form by no later than 12 noon on the Monday before the Thursday of the Planning Committee meeting.

We will then advise you about how we can make sure your views are recorded and represented to the Committee.

If you cannot complete the online form, or have any questions, please contact Member Support Services by email or telephone:

Tel: 01386 565420/565679

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Letters of support or objection will also continue to be taken into account.

You can still only speak on items which are due to be determined by the Planning Committee.

Advice to Public Speakers at Planning Committee re. visual aids/additional material

Visual aids such as photographs or plans, or written material cannot be handed out, circulated or displayed at any Planning Committee meeting.

Guide for Participants Public Speaking at Planning Committee

All personal data held is processed in accordance with Data Protection Law. For more information please read our Privacy Notice for Development Management on our website.

Planning Enforcement

We are currently experiencing a high demand on the Planning Enforcement Service and it is likely that that enforcement investigations will take longer than usual, however we will endeavour to update you as soon as possible on case progressions.

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Planning enforcement information

Our Planning Enforcement team investigates complaints of alleged breaches of planning control to determine if a breach has occurred and what action, if any, is required.

To help us do this we have produced our pdf Local Enforcement Plan (2.16 MB) , which was adopted in 2016.

This sets out the powers available to us to deal with breaches of planning control and at what point we will take action. The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework makes it clear that councils are expected to act proportionately when responding to any breaches.

View Government guidance

What is a breach of planning control?

Breaches of planning control include:

Unauthorised works to listed buildings
Unauthorised works to trees with a tree preservation order (TPO) or in a Conservation Area
Breaches of planning conditions
Failure to comply with a s106 agreement
Unauthorised development works and changes of use
Removal of protected hedgerows
Not building in accordance with the approved plans that form part of a planning permission
Unauthorised engineering operations, such as creation of earth bunds

What isn’t a breach of planning control?

Issues not considered breaches include:

Obstruction of a highway or public right of way
Parking of vehicles on the highway or on grass verges
Parking caravans on residential driveways
Land ownership disputes or trespass issues
Covenants imposed on property Deeds
Issues relating to noise and disturbance; smell nuisance and light pollution which are investigated by our Environmental Health Team at Worcestershire Regulatory Services. For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone 01905 822799. In certain circumstances such issues may be controlled by planning legislation, for example where they are the subject of a condition imposed on a planning permission.
Issues relating to anti-social behaviour (unless in relation to high hedges) are investigated by our Community Services Team and/or West Mercia Police. For further information contact our Community Services Team on 01684 862250 or the Police on 101 (non-emergency) or online at https://www.westmercia.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/

More information is available in our pdf Local Enforcement Plan (2.16 MB) .

Who can submit a breach of planning control complaint?

Anyone can submit a breach of planning control complaint to be investigated. All Planning Enforcement Complaints received are confidential. If you wish to submit a complaint anonymously please contact your Parish Clerk or Ward Councillor who can contact us on your behalf.

Report a breach of planning control

If you are unable to complete an online planning enforcement complaint form please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Enforcement tools

When dealing with breaches of planning control, there are a number of tools that can be used to help achieve the right outcome.

Find out more about planning enforcement tools

For more information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01386 565565.

Heritage and Conservation

Due to significant resourcing issues the built heritage team will be unable to respond to anything non-urgent outside of the application process. Please bear with us, as responses to applications may also be delayed in the coming months.

The Heritage Team provides a range of services and advice about the protection and enhancement of the historic built environment and the natural environment.

The Wychavon District of Worcestershire has a rich, historic built environment. This section includes guidance on listed buildings, conservation areas and related applications for consents and permissions. It also includes repairs and how to search for a listed building.

Historic Built Environment Archaeological fees

Natural Environment

The Natural Environment includes guidance on how trees might be protected and applications for work on protected trees. There is also advice on biodiversity and landscape matters, rural hedgerows and high hedge complaints.

Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)Landscape, High Hedges and Hedgerows Biodiversity

Customer Service Survey

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For further information contact:

Planning Support Team

Telephone: 01386 565565 between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.