The Government is introducing planning gateway one, which will apply to applications for planning permission made on or after 1 August 2021 as a result of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure and Section 62A Applications) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (”the 2021 Order”).
It has two key elements:
- to require the developer to submit a fire statement setting out fire safety considerations specific to the development with a relevant application for planning permission for development which involves one or more relevant buildings, and
- to establish the Health and Safety Executive as a statutory consultee for relevant planning applications
Relevant buildings under planning gateway one must contain two or more dwellings or educational accommodation and meet the height condition of 18m or more, or 7 or more storeys.
What information must a fire statement contain?
Fire statements must be submitted on a form published by the Secretary of State and include information about (not exhaustive list):
- the principles, concepts and approach relating to fire safety that have been applied to each building in the development
- the site layout
- emergency vehicle access and water supplies for firefighting purposes
- what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to the fire safety of the development; and what account has been taken of this
- how any policies relating to fire safety in relevant local development documents have been taken into account
The publication of a standard form for this purpose is intended to ensure consistency in the way in which information is provided, as well as ensuring information contained within a fire statement is focused on fire safety matters as they relate to land use planning. However you can use your own form provided it covers the points in the official form.
