A CONSULTATION on new planning guidance that will help inform planners future decisions comes to an end this week.

And a Powys based architect and planning consultant believes that developers and landowners should give Powys County Council (PCC) their view.

The consultation is on Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) dealing with Conservation Areas and Design.

When adopted this will support the policies in the Local Development Plan (LDP) that are used to judge planning applications.

Doug Hughes, managing director of Hughes Architects, said: “When the Powys LDP was adopted, the council committed to consulting on Supplementary Planning Guidance for a range of topics.

“In this latest consultation it wants views on Residential Design and Conservation Areas.

“These two areas of local planning are very important.

“Once approved the guide will be used by planning officers to decide applications upon the design of everything from an extension to a new build home, through to large-scale residential developments.

“It is extremely significant. It will also set out the principles and standards for any architectural or building work in Conservation Areas.”

“It’s important for anyone with an interest or involvement in building houses or extensions in the area to be part of the process.”

The LDP sets out how PCC will decides development and use of land in Powys up until 2026,

Together with national planning policy it will guide decisions on planning applications on all future development and land use planning within the Plan area during the Plan period.

SPGs provide detailed planning guidance for policies and proposals in the adopted Powys LDP.

Once approved, these will become material planning considerations in the determination of planning applications.

The purpose of the SPG on Conservation areas is that development proposals are supposed to mean that “character and appearance of Conservation Areas is appropriately considered, preserved and, where appropriate, enhanced.”

The SPG on Design is supposed to explain to applicants what “good quality design” in an application is.

The consultation ends at 5pm on Friday, September 20.

To give PCC your views, visit: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/4907/LDP-Supplementary-Planning-Guidance-SPG