Document Retrieval Requests

Under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), Regulation 8(1) permits a public authority to charge for supplying environmental information.

Regulations 8(3) states any charge cannot “exceed an amount which the public authority is satisfied is a reasonable amount”. We have calculated a cost recovery charge based on a time and motion analysis and staffing and service costs which can be obtained by request at planning@castlepoint.gov.uk (Please note, this mailbox is not for general enquiries).  
 

Plans/drawings/supporting documents

This document retrieval service allows requests for any plans/ drawings or supporting documents held by the planning department for an individual site address to be retrieved and viewed (either by appointment at the planning counter or by electronic copy emailed).

Plans, drawings and material relating to planning are protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You should only use material which is downloaded.

• for consultation purposes;
• to compare current applications with previous schemes; or
• to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans.

Copies must not be made without the prior permission of the copyright owner (for example, the architect who prepared the plans). Unauthorised use could lead to the copyright owner seeking compensation from you or taking legal action against you.

Please be aware, some documents are available on our public access.

Make document retrieval request

Decision notice/S106 agreement/ Building Control Completion Certificate etc

This document retrieval service allows requests for legal documents related to an individual site address, such as the decision notice, S106 agreement, Building Control documents etc that are held by the council, to be retrieved and viewed (either by appointment at the planning counter or by electronic copy emailed).

Please be aware, some planning registers and decision notices can be found on our planning history page or on the public access section of our website. 

Make document retrieval request

Charge for service

Please be aware not all properties have planning histories available, but in order to determine this, research is required, therefore a fee is still applicable.

A temporary payment system over the phone will be available until Late 2019, after which payment can be made online at time of submission.

If you require information on more than one property you will need to fill out subsequent forms for each individual address. Each search will require payment.

Planning document retrieval request - £35 for first 30 minutes*
Legal planning document retrieval request - £15 for first 13 minutes*

* If we begin work and find the retrieval will take us more than double this amount of time, we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and to request further payment if you wish to continue. - Please see Terms and conditions.pdf[pdf] 218KB for full details.

Payment will be needed before we provide either service, therefore once the form has been received, we contact you with the payment details and once received, we will endeavour to get the information to you within 10 working days. Once a retrieval request has been paid for, we are unable to offer a refund.

The documents you have requested will be emailed to you, however should you wish a paper copy there is a charge of 30 pence per sheet.

Disclaimer

By completing the online form requesting a planning document retrieval service or legal document retrieval service, you are confirming you understand some of the information may be available online but you wish us to retrieve, collate and provide that information for you. 

Please be aware, by providing you with the documents requested, the Planning department are not in any way providing comment on if any aspects of new proposals/ existing developments are lawful. If you wish to establish either of these cases, you have the option to submit a Certificate of Lawfulness. More information can be found on the Planning Portal.

Make document retrieval request