The planning process can be split into three key stages:

1. Checking
2. Publicity & Consultation
3. The Decision

These are explained below, together with a summary of what’s already taken place and the likely timescale for future events.

1. Checking

The Council’s Development Control section is responsible for processing planning applications, acting in the public interest to ensure the best use of land and buildings and ensuring that new developments fit in with the Council’s policies and long term plans.

When the planning application is received by Development Control, it is allocated a number and then examined to make sure that the form has been completed correctly and that the submitted plans contain sufficient information. When these checks have been carried out and the application is considered valid, publicity and consultation follow.

Rovers’ application was registered on November 19th 2004 and was allocated the number 04/04684/F/N. The proposal is described as:

“Replacement of existing terraced stand to rear of Filton Avenue properties with new North Stand to provide approximately 4900 seats and ancillary facilities including concession stands, match control, disabled viewing boxes, conferencing and educational rooms, crèche and health & fitness suite”.

2. Publicity & Consultation

Each week, the Development Control team produces “weekly lists” which detail new planning applications that have been registered, current planning applications that are pending consideration by a case officer, and planning applications that have been decided or withdrawn in the previous week, including any attached conditions or reasons for refusal. These lists allow you to track an application as it passes through the planning process, from receipt through to decision. Copies of these lists are sent to Councillors, Parish Councils, Civic Societies, Public Libraries and other individuals or groups who have given prior notice of their interest.

The Mem application was included in the “weekly list” detailing all new planning applications for the week commencing 15th November 2004 and is now in what is termed the consultation phase.

Bristol City Council has a duty to consult on applications and states that it want to get the views of all interested parties.

Therefore, as part of the application process, the Council will write to the near neighbours of the site and publicise the application with a series of formal site notices on or near the site. It will also be advertised in the local newspaper. The Council has already sent written notification to local residents in the streets surrounding the Memorial Stadium (we’re not sure what the catchment area is), and according to the Council’s latest weekly list for current developments (for the week beginning 20th December), the deadline for receiving ‘neighbour comments’ has been set at January 6th 2005. This list also stated that the application will be advertised in the local press on December 22nd and seven site notices will be posted in the immediate area on the same date. The deadline for receiving comments arising from these has been set at January 12th 2005.

In addition, all members of the public who have an interest are entitled to put forward their comments in writing regarding the application as part of the consultation process. The Bristol City Council website has produced a leaflet entitled Your Chance to Have Your Say which explains how to obtain information, how you can make your views known and how comments will be treated.

All comments must be made in writing and you can send your comments by post or you can e-mail them to north_planning@bristol-city.gov.uk. The address given on the Have Your Say leaflet is The Planning Office, Bristol City Council, Brunel House, St. George’s Road, Bristol BS15UY.

3. The Decision

Once the consultation process has been completed, the next stage will be for the Council to collect together all of the comments received from local residents, interested parties and other consultees (e.g. Highways Authority, Police, Urban Design Team etc.) and start to consider whether the application is acceptable or not, and whether any amendments would be required in order to make it successful. After that, the item will have to be determined by the Development Control (North) Committee, who meet once a month. The Council have informed us that the first available meeting for this application to go forward will be held on 23 February 2005.

Confirmation of the agenda for this meeting (if the application is heard at that one) will only be available much nearer the actual time of the meeting. However, all meetings are open to the press and public and they generally take place on Wednesday afternoons starting at 2pm.

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