This meeting of Wokingham Borough Council's Executive - Individual Member Decisions was scheduled to consider updates to the council's local validation list. The report pack includes the agenda and the public reports pack. Councillor Martin Alder, Executive Councillor for Planning and Enforcement, was scheduled to make the decision, with Ian Jordan present as an officer.

Local Validation List Renewal

The main item scheduled for discussion was the renewal of the Local Validation List.

The validation list advises those submitting planning applications about the supporting information required, with the level of detail varying depending on the proposal's scale and nature. Local planning authorities are required to publish a local validation list for applications and review it every two years. The report pack states that the list was last reviewed in 2023, and several updates are required to align it with legislative and policy changes, as well as to correct typographical errors.

The report pack notes that applications lacking the information outlined in the local or national list are not treated as valid submissions.

The list is divided into national and local validation requirements. The national requirements are set by central government and are consistent across all local planning authorities in England. The local validation requirements relate specifically to planning applications submitted to Wokingham Borough Council.

The report pack states that a consultation was carried out on the local validation requirements.

The report pack lists several proposed changes to the Local Validation List:

• Householder: Arboricultural Assessment: Clarification to state that an assessment is only required for works that might affect trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The report pack says that, Requiring Arboricultural Assessments beyond trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order is unreasonable.
• Householder and Listed Building Consent: Bat survey: Clarification to state that a survey is required for works that affect the roof area, including soffits and fascia boards only. The report pack says that this is to, Ensure reasonable, consistent and clear requirement for submission of Bat Surveys.
• NMA: Clarification of wording: Proposed Elevations and Floor Plans are only required 'as applicable'. For example, a change to external materials may not require a floor plan. The report pack says that this is to, Ensure reasonable, consistent and clear requirement for submission of elevations and floor plans.
• Variation: Clarification of wording: Amended Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) details may be required if the original application was not exempt and the proposed changes may affect BNG. The report pack says that this is to, Ensure reasonable, consistent and clear requirement for submission of BNG.
• Permission in Principle: Correction as these submissions do not require a CIL Form¹. The report pack says that this is to, Ensure reasonable, consistent and clear requirement for submission of CIL forms.
• Clarification of bat roost survey requirements: To include all high potential roost areas including all existing roof areas, soffits, fascia boards and decorative tile hangings. The report pack says that this is to, Ensure reasonable, consistent and clear requirement for submission of Bat Surveys.
• Flood Risk Assessments: Guidance expanded to include changes to requirements from The Environment Agency. The report pack says that this is, To bring guidance in line with EA requirements for FRA's.
• Energy Statement: Required for Full applications that are designated Major Developments . The report pack says that this is a, New requirements to reflect climate emergency designation.
• Sustainability Statement: Minor edits to wording and further clarification to requirements. The report pack says that this is a, Clarification of requirement.
• CIL liability for CLPs: Minor edit to wording to ensure clarity.
• Improved clarity for requirements for Design & Access Statements: Minor edit to wording to ensure clarity.
• Class A Prior Notification: Correction to CIL requirements as requirements were incorrect.
• Class MA Prior Notification: Correction to CIL requirements as requirements were incorrect.
• Class AA Prior Notification: Correction to CIL requirements as requirements were incorrect.
• Class AA, AB, AC, AD, ZA & A Prior Notifications: Clarification to FRA requirements with a wording edit to ensure clarity.
• Planning Obligations wording changes: Omitting CIL adoption wording as CIL was adopted in 2015, so wording is no longer required.
• Site Specific Flood Risk Assessments: Correction to wording for requirements due to legislative PPG changes.
• Handed plans are not acceptable: Dimensioned drawings such as existing and proposed floor plans must show the whole building. The report pack says that this is to, Avoid confusion during public consultation and facilitate mandatory CIL calculation checks required during validation.

The report pack states that there are no financial implications from the recommendation to update the Local Validation List.