Requirements of other authorities/service undertakers Q & A DCP Section 4.15

This section considers how material to the making of a planning decision are the duties, policies or standards of all those administrative bodies that also have an input into land use or environmental matters, be they Government/local government departments, agencies or privatised service providers. The requirements of the Department for Transport/The Highways Agency and of local Highways Authorities are considered at (4.151), and those of the Environment Agency (in relation to water) and the water companies at (4.152). The role of environmental health bodies is discussed at (4.153) and those of building or fire regulation departments at (4.154). Law enforcement agencies, education authorities, licensing justices, railway undertakers and airport authorities are discussed at (4.155) to (4.157). The two main considerations in deciding whether the policies of other bodies are material are whether they are related to the development/use of land and whether they reasonably relate to the particular application. Although it is initially for the decision-maker to consider whether a policy of another body is material, it is ultimately a matter for the courts to decide.