Planning and development privacy data

Why we collect information about you

The National Planning Policy Framework requires councils to conduct land availability assessments. Cheltenham Borough Council assesses housing and economic land availability in a combined document called the Strategic Assessment of Land Availability (SALA).

As part of the assessment, we hold a “call for sites” asking for anyone to submit information relating to sites that may be suitable for development via a form on our website. We will also ask for updates of previously submitted sites.

We collect information on the site from you when you submit the form as well as personal data. The personal data are kept on a register so that we can contact you when we update the assessment yearly.

You have the right to request for your personal data to be removed and to stop being contacted regarding the assessment at any time by emailing [email protected]

What information do we collect about you?

Personal data: Name, postal address, organisation, email address, telephone number(s), planning agent (if applicable), relation to the site.

Information detailing the site.

Who do we share the information with?

The information that you provide is separated into two types of data - a) your site submission, b) your personal data.

Site submissions are used to create a SALA report. The SALA report will be shared on the council’s website. The sites will also be considered for future stages of plan making and ultimately could become allocated in a local plan. The plan (including allocations) would need to be publically examined before it could be adopted.

Your personal information will not be made publically available. However, we may pass your contact details on to certain members of the public where it allows us to fulfil a statutory function. For instance, if you indicate that your site is suitable for self-build housing, we may pass details of your site and contact details to members of our self-build register. You have the right to object to this, although it is not an absolute right. You must give specific reasons why you are objecting to the processing of your data. The council may refuse to comply if we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing, which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or if the processing is for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. Should the site be put forward for allocation in a local plan your personal data could be shared with a Planning Inspector and their Programme Officer during the examination phase. They will use this information to contact you regarding your site submission both generally (unless you have not asked to be so notified) and where statutorily required under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

Is any information transferred to or stored on servers based outside the European Economic Area?

The information is stored on servers based in the UK.

How long do we keep your information?

The information you provide will be retained until you ask us to remove it. The council carries out an annual review of the sites listed on the SALA and we will ask you whether you want your details to remain on our register.

Who do we collect information from?

We collect the information from members of the public, statutory bodies and those in the development industry who wish to submit information regarding sites.

What are the consequences if we do not collect the data?

The council has a statutory planning obligation to consult on local plans as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. If you withdraw your consent to the council to hold your personal data for this purpose, your site would lose its status as “available” in the following SALA report and development on the site would be considered unachievable.

Are any decisions about you made by automatic means?

No automated decisions are made about you.