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We aim to respond to general enquires within two working days. 

If you have submitted a Freedom of Information request, this will be
logged, and you will receive an acknowledgment email including a reference
number shortly. 

Thanks 

 
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Our Ref: 10526  

Dear Ms James,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Please note, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, there may be a delay in
responding to your request. We appreciate your patience at this busy
period.

Kind regards,
 
Catherine

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Our Ref: 10526   

Dear Ms James, 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 
 
I refer to your Freedom of Information request dated Friday 4th March. 
 
Right of Access 
 
Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled. 
 
(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and 
 
(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him. 
 
The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it. 
 
The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions. 
 
Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response. 
 
Request: 

Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic society movement, is
undertaking research into the impact of the Government’s recent changes to
permitted development rights, specifically the introduction of the new
permitted development right to allow properties to change from Use Class E
(Commercial, Business and Service use) to Class C3 (Dwellinghouses). This
right was introduced through The Town and Country Planning (General
Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I.
2021/428), effective from 1st August 2021. 

With this in mind, I am writing to request the following information from
your local planning authority under the Freedom of Information Act: 

1. Please could you provide details of all prior approval applications
submitted to your local planning authority from 1st August 2021 to date,
under The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)
(England) Order 2015 (as amended) – Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA, for the
change of use from Class E (Commercial, Business and Service use) to Class
C3 (Dwellinghouses). 

2. I would be grateful if the details could be provided in Excel format
(if possible) and include: 

a. Application reference number 

b. Address 

c. Proposal description 

d. Valid date 

e. Decision date (if determined) 

f. Decision (if determined) 

g. Weblink to view the prior approval application 

3. If your authority has not received any Class MA prior approval
applications to date, I would be grateful if you could confirm that also. 

4. The results of our research study will be reported to the Government,
the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee and our network
of civic societies and community groups across England, in due course. If
you would like to keep in touch with us on the study or provide further
information, please provide your contact details (main contact in the
planning department) and I will keep you informed as the study
progresses. 

Response: 

Please see attached report listing the applications of interest.  The
planning applications can be viewed on our [1]Public access system. 

 
 
Complaints 
 
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office: 
 
Information Governance Office, Northumberland County Council, County Hall,
Morpeth, NE61 2EF 
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email] 
 
Information Commissioner 
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at: 
 
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF 
Tel: 0303 123 1113, Email: [email address] 
 
There is no charge for making an appeal. 
 
Yours faithfully, 
 
FOI Coordinator – Planning 
Information Governance Office 
Northumberland County Council 
County Hall 
Morpeth 
Northumberland 
NE61 2EF 
 
Tel: 0345 600 6400 
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email] 
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk 

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