Purpose

To provide clarity to customers on the National Validation Requirements that are currently in place, and to introduce new Local Validation Requirements permitted by current legislation. All our neighbouring local planning authorities, together with most local authorities across the country have published Local Validation Requirements. The introduction of Local Validation Requirements sets out the information and documentation required to make a planning application valid, i.e. live. This means that Officers will have all the information needed to determine an application. Currently a notable number of applications have to be refused on insufficient information and whilst we ask for the additional information where possible, this is often not possible within the statutory timescales. The introduction of the Local Validation Requirements will not only ensure RBWM is on a par with other LPAs, but also provide clarity and guidance for our applicants. This should, in turn, lead to fewer refusals, fewer appeals, more approvals and greater customer satisfaction

Decision

AGREED: That Cabinet noted the report and:

i)                 Approved the adoption of the National and Local Validation Requirements and its implementation on 24th February 2026.

ii)               Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to approve and publish any minor changes to the National and Local Validation Requirements, prior to its publication.