Duty Planning Officer

We offer a Duty Planning Officer service to provide general informal advice on the planning system and the procedures associated with it. 

This is offered via an appointment based only system through either a pre-arranged meeting with a planning officer at the Council’s customer service centre within the Tameside One building at Market Place, Ashton or a pre-arranged telephone call. The service will be made available between 9.00am and 1.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in 20 minute appointment slots.

Owing to the ongoing Coronavirus situation the Council will be temporarily suspending face to face meetings as part of the Duty Planning Officer service until further notice.  However, appointments can still be made for a planning officer to telephone customers for planning advice at a pre-arranged time as normal.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that you understand the reasons for this change.

The service is designed to be a first point of contact to obtain advice on the following matters only:
 

• Procedure and process relating to the planning system;
• Interpretation of planning policies relating to extensions and alterations to residential properties;
• Interpretation of planning policies for minor developments to commercial properties (including advertisements); 
• Interpretation and advice on permitted development rights;
• Support in interpreting drawings and plans.
• General advice/guidance regarding other minor developments

This service provides informal verbal advice only on the matters listed above.  Written advice is not offered via this service.  If you require pre-application advice on the likelihood of the Local Planning Authority supporting proposed development please refer to our pre-application service  Alternatively, you can proceed to submit a planning application to the Council via the Planning Portal website to receive a formal decision.  Should you be of the view that a particular development does not require planning permission (and would thereby constitute ‘permitted development’) however you wish to gain formal confirmation/agreement from the Council of this, you should submit a ‘certificate of lawfulness’ application, again, via the Planning Portal website.


Requests for an appointment should be made to the Planning Department via the Contact Centre on 0161 342 8355 (selecting option 4).  You will be asked to provide the following information:
 

• Your name and contact number;
• The address or site location to which the queries relate;
• The nature of the general enquiry you have; and,
• Whether you wish to visit the offices in person or receive a telephone call.

Unless you are advised that the nature of your enquiry is one that is not suitable for this service you will be provided with the next available appointment slot.  Please be advised that there is space at our offices for a maximum of two customers only per duty appointment. 

If you have an enquiry about a specific application (i.e. applications for planning permission, advertisement consent and listed building consent etc.) you should contact the case officer dealing with it.  This can be done by calling the Planning Department via the Contact Centre on 0161 342 8355 (selecting option 4) providing the application reference number or address.

Any advice given by Council officers for pre-application/duty planning enquiries does not constitute a formal response or decision of the Council with regard to future planning consents. Any views or opinions expressed are given in good faith and to the best of ability but without prejudice to the formal consideration of any planning application, which is likely to be subject to public consultation and ultimately decided by the Council. You should therefore be aware that officers cannot give guarantees about the final form or decision that will be made on your planning or related applications.