Before You Start

Our planning service has been designed to be easy to use. The information we provide offers users a choice of criteria for both selection and sorting, and is constantly updated in real time.
Information and Help options are provided for each page and it is recommended these be read through before starting.

Our Fees

This service is provided without any charge. Downloading of documents is also uncharged. Please note however that planning and building regulation applications are fee based.

Our Standards

The government required that all local authorities were to be e-government compliant by December 2006.

In providing this on-line service we have broadly followed e-government advice and requirements as set out in the Pendleton and PARSOL criteria.

Our service also takes account of the Data Protection Act, and government advice as it is understood to apply to information standards and wider issues of social inclusion etc.

Our on-line technical performance

The basic advice is that the better your equipment and connections to the web, then the quicker our system can respond. We would suggest that the best performance is likely to be secured using broadband Internet and a PC with current specifications. Older PC specifications and use of modems are likely to offer slower responses- especially when opening our scanned files.

Planning Interactive is best-viewed using Internet Explorer version 5.5 or above with a screen resolution of 1024 by 768 (with a minimum resolution of 800 by 600) and at least 256 colours. Different settings may restrict your viewing, especially on PCs with older specifications.

Given the self-service nature of our on- line planning service we are not able to provide any on-line support service dealing with any technical/performance issues arising from the use of your equipment. This also applies to use of the Planning Portal.

You will be automatically advised if by any chance there is a technical problem, which is our responsibility. In such events your patience would be appreciated.

We do not currently recommend that A0 plans be printed off to scale given the volume of data involved. An A4 print of the A0 is probably a useful alternative.

What we provide

Our approach is to combine on-line planning information from 3 key systems:-

• Planning database(s) for Planning Register detail
• Scanning systems which provides access to scanned planning application details
• Mapping systems showing- amongst other things- planning application site locations

This information is provided in 3 main ways:-

• Searching individual applications or addresses
• Searching ‘ Planning Register’ for group lists such as for Appeals or Enforcements
• Basic scanned planning application files* to show application form, plans, officer/committee report and third party letters

(*Please note that in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act you may view the complete application file at the Council Offices during normal working hours).

What we don’t provide

Given the self-service nature of Planning Interactive we are not able to provide; -

• Any on-line support concerning the use of the system (please refer to the Help, Information and FAQs options).

• Any on-line support service dealing with technical problems you may experience (such as speed of loading).

•Any direct response to queries arising from the information we provide- (hopefully) the information is self-evident. However, any errors in data you may find, or improvements you may wish to suggest are always useful and can be reported to: developmentcontrol@malvernhills.gov.uk

You are of course welcome to come to our Offices during normal hours where our staff may be able to offer a part-assisted service or clarification on current application detail.

Caveats

When considering using our interactive planning system please consider the following caveats: -

• Planning Interactive undergoes periodic enhancement and development and so any problems reported that can be addressed are incorporated into the next release. Hence some planned options shown are pending a subsequent release.

• Our Planning Register Data - some of which goes back to April 1996 - may not necessarily be wholly consistent where addresses are concerned and so address based searches are best independently double-checked.

• At present the planning data held on our system goes back 1 April 1996.

• We are obliged to take account of the Data Protection Act so at present we do not provide web based public access to the complete scanned planning application file. However, you may view the complete application file, including archive 3rd party representations (but excluding confidential information), at the Council Offices during normal working hours.

• Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of current addresses held on our system we cannot guarantee the results of any address based search and so it is recommended that results be independently double checked before use.

• Likewise we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of our data and so it is recommended that results (such as very recent decisions) be verified before use.

• Lastly- we can make mistakes. If you find one please let us know: email: developmentcontrol@malvernhills.gov.uk or telephone: 01684 862151