Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning application documents: what to read first
Understand planning application documents, officer reports and decision notices. Use a reading checklist, document table and worked example to inspect a case.
Application overview
Variation of condition C2 - drawing numbers of planning application PA26/0179 for design changes to the pontoon and brow.
Proposal details
- Reference
- PA26/2659
- Alternative references
- PP-15121504
- Ward
- Twickenham Riverside Ward [TRW]
- Agent
- Nixon
- UPRN
- 10002251982
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Sign in to view collected detailsDocuments 9 of 9
| Document | Published | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Application Form - Without Personal DataApplication Form - Redacted | 30 Jul 2026 | View |
| PROPOSED WORKS TO RIVER WALLSubmitted Drawing | 30 Jul 2026 | View |
| METHOD STATEMENTReport | 30 Jul 2026 | View |
| COVER LETTERCorrespondence | 6 Aug 2026 | View |
| Approved and Proposed DrawingsSubmitted Drawing | 6 Aug 2026 | View |
| supporting statement includes Heritage AssessmentReport | 13 Aug 2026 | View |
| Environment Agency commentsConsultee | 8 Sept 2026 | View |
| Officer's ReportReport | 24 Sept 2026 | View |
| DecisionDecision Notice | 24 Sept 2026 | View |
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Application timeline
Council milestones and published deadlines. A deadline passing does not confirm a decision.
Consultation expiry date
Past published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council sourceStatutory expiry date
Past published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council sourcePublicity end date
Past published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council sourceSite notice end date
Past published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council sourceDecision due date
Past published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council sourceDecision expiry date
Published deadlineA published target or deadline. It does not confirm an outcome.
Council source
Decision & conditions
DecisionPlanning conditions
- The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years of the date (24th Mar 2026) on which the original permission ref. PA26/0179 was granted. REASON: To conform with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
- The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and documents, where applicable. Fire Safety Strategy, Flood Risk Assessment, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Preliminary Method Statement, received 20th January 2026; Pontoon Site Location Plan JLP-01A, Existing Site Plan JLP-02A, Existing Elevation JL-04, received 5th February 2026; Construction Management Plan, CONSTRUCTION ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (produced by Clive Chapman Architects, dated May 2026), received 8th May 2026 and Email from Clive Chapman Architects, dated 8th June 2026 (as approved under application ref. PA26/1594); Proposed Works to the River Wall 15705-05/D, Method Statement (dated July 2026), received 30th July 2026; Approved and Proposed Pontoon and Brow JLP-06, received 6th August 2026. REASON: To accord with the terms of the application, for the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.
- The development hereby approved shall not be implemented other than in accordance with the principles and methodology as described within the Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Preliminary Method Statement (Document reference: MDJAC-23.121-AIAPMS-01 Date: December 2023 Revision: A – 7 June 2024). REASON: To ensure that the tree (s) are not damaged or otherwise adversely affected by demolition, building operations, excavations and soil compaction.
- The development hereby permitted shall not be used other than for the purposes of leisure and transport in connection with existing dwelling house, and shall at no time be used as a permanent residential mooring separate to or independent of the existing dwellinghouse. REASON: To protect the amenity of neighbours, river safety and the appearance of the locality
- The development must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Safety Strategy received 20th January 2026. REASON: To ensure that the development incorporates the necessary fire safety measures in accordance with the Mayor's London Plan Policy D12.
- No external illumination shall be installed except in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, such details to include the method, intensity, siting and technical specifications. The details shall demonstrate that there is no upward lighting and/or lighting onto the open sky, trees, watercourses or potential roost features. REASON: To safeguard the ecology of the site and protect/safeguard the amenities of the locality.
- Approval of a Biodiversity Gain Plan will not be required before development commences Biodiversity Net Gain The effect of paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is that planning permission granted for development of land in England is deemed to have been granted subject to the condition ('biodiversity gain condition') that development may not begin unless: (a) a Biodiversity Gain Plan has been submitted to the planning authority, and (b) the planning authority has approved the plan. The planning authority, for the purposes of determining whether to approve a Biodiversity Gain Plan, if one is required in respect of this permission would be the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. There are statutory exemptions and transitional arrangements which mean that the biodiversity gain condition does not always apply. These are listed below. Based on the information available this permission is considered to be one which will not require the approval of a biodiversity gain plan before development is begun because one or more of the statutory exemptions or transitional arrangements in the list below is/are considered to apply. Statutory exemptions and transitional arrangements in respect of the biodiversity gain condition. 1. The application for planning permission was made before 12 February 2024. 2. The planning permission relates to development to which section 73A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (planning permission for development already carried out) applies. 3. The planning permission was granted on an application made under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and (i) the original planning permission to which the section 73 planning permission relates* was granted before 12 February 2024; or (ii) the application for the original planning permission* to which the section 73 planning permission relates was made before 12 February 2024. 4. The permission which has been granted is for development which is exempt being: 4.1 Development which is not 'major development' (within the meaning of article 2(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015) where: (i) the application for planning permission was made before 2 April 2024; (ii) planning permission is granted which has effect before 2 April 2024; or (iii) planning permission is granted on an application made under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 where the original permission to which the section 73 permission relates* was exempt by virtue of (i) or (ii). 4.2 Development below the de minimis threshold, meaning development which: (i) does not impact an onsite priority habitat (a habitat specified in a list published under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006); and (ii) impacts less than 25 square metres of onsite habitat that has biodiversity value greater than zero and less than 5 metres in length of onsite linear habitat (as defined in the statutory metric). 4.3 Development which is subject of a householder application within the meaning of article 2(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. A 'householder application' means an application for planning permission for development for an existing dwellinghouse, or development within the curtilage of such a dwellinghouse for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse which is not an application for change of use or an application to change the number of dwellings in a building. 4.4 Development of a biodiversity gain site, meaning development which is undertaken solely or mainly for the purpose of fulfilling, in whole or in part, the Biodiversity Gain Planning condition which applies in relation to another development, (no account is to be taken of any facility for the public to access or to use the site for educational or recreational purposes, if that access or use is permitted without the payment of a fee). 4.5 Self and Custom Build Development, meaning development which: (i) consists of no more than 9 dwellings; (ii) is carried out on a site which has an area no larger than 0.5 hectares; and (iii) consists exclusively of dwellings which are self-build or custom housebuilding (as defined in section 1(A1) of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015). 4.6 Development forming part of, or ancillary to, the high speed railway transport network (High Speed 2) comprising connections between all or any of the places or parts of the transport network specified in section 1(2) of the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013. * 'original planning permission means the permission to which the section 73 planning permission relates' means a planning permission which is the first in a sequence of two or more planning permissions, where the second and any subsequent planning permissions are section 73 planning permissions. Irreplaceable habitat If the onsite habitat includes irreplaceable habitat (within the meaning of the Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations 2024) there are additional requirements for the content and approval of Biodiversity Gain Plans. The Biodiversity Gain Plan must include, in addition to information about steps taken or to be taken to minimise any adverse effect of the development on the habitat, information on arrangements for compensation for any impact the development has on the biodiversity of the irreplaceable habitat. The planning authority can only approve a Biodiversity Gain Plan if satisfied that the adverse effect of the development on the biodiversity of the irreplaceable habitat is minimised and appropriate arrangements have been made for the purpose of compensating for any impact which do not include the use of biodiversity credits. The effect of section 73D of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 If planning permission is granted on an application made under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (application to develop land without compliance with conditions previously attached) and a Biodiversity Gain Plan was approved in relation to the previous planning permission ('the earlier Biodiversity Gain Plan') there are circumstances when the earlier Biodiversity Gain Plan is regarded as approved for the purpose of discharging the biodiversity gain condition subject to which the section 73 planning permission is granted. Those circumstances are that the conditions subject to which the section 73 permission is granted: (i) do not affect the post-development value of the onsite habitat as specified in the earlier Biodiversity Gain Plan, and (ii) in the case of planning permission for a development where all or any part of the onsite habitat is irreplaceable habitat the conditions do not change the effect of the development on the biodiversity of that onsite habitat (including any arrangements made to compensate for any such effect) as specified in the earlier Biodiversity Gain Plan.
- In accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, Richmond upon Thames Borough Council takes a positive and proactive approach to the delivery of sustainable development, by: * Providing a formal pre-application service * Providing written policies and guidance, all of which is available to view on the Council's website * Where appropriate, negotiating amendments to secure a positive decision * Determining applications in a timely manner. In this instance: * The application was acceptable as submitted, and approved without delay
- The applicant is advised that a River Works Licence issued by the Port of London Authority, or variation thereunto, is required for the works.
- The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 require a permit to be obtained for any activities which will take place: • on or within 8 metres of a main river (16 metres if tidal) • on or within 8 metres of a flood defence structure or culvert (16 metres if tidal) • on or within 16 metres of a sea defence • involving quarrying or excavation within 16 metres of any main river, flood defence (including a remote defence) or culvert • in a floodplain more than 8 metres from the river bank, culvert or flood defence structure (16 metres if it’s a tidal main river) and you don’t already have planning permission. For further guidance please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-activitiesenvironmental-permits or contact the National Customer Contact Centre on 03702 422 549 or by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. The applicant should not assume that a permit will automatically be forthcoming once planning permission has been granted, and they are advised to consult the Environment Agency at the earliest opportunity.
