What is a public enquiry and how does it progress? What is its aim? What is a planning permit?
A public enquiry involves the population being consulted within the context of a request for a planning permit. During a public enquiry, you are given the opportunity to submit comments and objections.
The law determines whether or not a public enquiry is held.
The investigation starts once the request for a planning permit has been submitted. It usually takes fifteen days.
It is announced via a poster at the location concerned (according to a model determined by the municipality) or by post. The poster must be perfectly visible and legible for the entire period of the investigation.
The city or municipality council is authorised to organise the public enquiry and will, in turn, also post a message at the town or city hall.
Once the public enquiry has been completed, all objections that have been submitted are thoroughly investigated and evaluated. The government is not bound to act on all of the objections. However the submitter of the objection can always demand the reasons for the decision taken.
The aims of a public enquiry are twofold:
A planning permit governs most work carried out in relation to building on and using the ground. Each change to the landscape, in principle, requires a planning permit. The applications for public services are managed by the regions authorised for urban development. The permits must be obtained before the work starts. Most applications are subject to a public enquiry.
