Ollie Boulter, Strategic Manager for Planning & Infrastructure Delivery Planning Services, Isle of Wight Council, Seaclose Offices, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS Tel Email Web Your Ref IWC Ref COVID19 Contact Date (01983) 823552 oliver.boulter@iow.gov.uk www.iow.gov.uk Ollie Boulter 25 March 2020 The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Local Planning Authority Dear all, I am writing an open letter to all involved in the development sector on the Isle of Wight in light of the unprecedented and fast-moving situation created by the Coronavirus. Due to the Government “lock-down” and restriction of non-essential movement announced by the Prime Minister, I have had to make difficult decisions about how best to continue to support the development sector whilst protecting staff. The following measures will continually be kept under review and I will update you when things change. • Planning Services staff including Building Control are now all working from home. • We continue to accept applications electronically but won’t be advertising them for public consultation straight away. By concentrating on applications currently under consideration, we should be in a better position to move more quickly to progress new applications once we can undertake public consultation. • We will still consult with statutory consultees if required, once we have validated your application. • We will hold virtual or telephone meetings for pre-apps or applications, but we are not undertaking site visits. • We will still investigate allegations of unlawful activity in relation to protected trees and heritage assets. • We are looking at how Planning Committee can be held virtually, in light of emergency legislation likely to be made this week. Delaying Committee or deferring items to the May Committee are options. • We will be following the Government’s approach towards relaxing some planning rules, such as the delivery times for supermarkets and pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways. We recognise that in these unprecedented circumstances you may not get your decisions as quickly as you might like, but please do bear us and ultimately we want to minimise the risks of challenge to your application and our decisions. www.iwight.com 2 Cont … There are also things that you as a sector can do to help us. If you are continuing to submit applications for planning permission, tree works or building control please submit them electronically either via the Planning Portal (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/) or to the relevant email addresses as per our website. This allows us to continue to process your application. Applications received by post will not be able to be processed whilst “lockdown” restrictions are in place. Planning applications and Tree works - development@iow.gov.uk Building Control – building.control@iow.gov.uk In these uncertain times I trust the above information is useful, and I hope that you all stay safe. Yours sincerely Ollie Boulter Strategic Manager for Planning and Infrastructure Delivery This information is available in Braille, large print, tape and community languages from the above offices and Typetalk calls are welcome