Planning policy and decisions team privacy notice

In February 2020, the Legacy Corporation’s Board agreed that by the end of 2024 the planning functions that were exercised by the LLDC as a result of the London Legacy Development Corporation (Planning Functions) Order 2012 (“2012 Order” SI 2012 No. 2167), will return to the London Boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest and will be exercised by them. The last day on which the LLDC will exercise its planning functions will be midnight on 30 November 2024.

To enable the transfer of the planning function, a complete and comprehensive set of planning data and records needs to be transferred to the four boroughs. This will ensure each borough has a complete set of records to support the ongoing planning function. This includes the historic (LLDC) decision making process, background and support for future borough planning decisions, and Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Requests (SAR) responsibilities.

The transferring planning data will include 'personal data' (eg: names, addresses, contact details) that was submitted as part of the planning application submission or as comments, representations, allegations, and questions in response to the planning application consultation process and/or the policy consultation process (eg. Local Plan, Supplementary Planning Documents, etc.). If this personal data was not transferred the boroughs would be unable to fulfil their local planning authority functions and responsibilities from the 1 December 2024. 

The boroughs responsibilities towards this personal data will be the same as the regulations and governance that cover the handling and processing of personal data within the Planning Policy and Decisions Directorate at the LLDC. The personal data will continue to be used for the purpose it was collected, that is to support the planning and policy process.

The Legacy Corporation together with the four local boroughs are committed to transparency and openness concerning data processing and the data transfer processes as part of the transfer of the planning function and powers. Should you have any questions concerning the transfer of your personal data, then please contact us by email: planningenquiries@londonlegacy.co.uk.

For further details and the latest information about the transfer of planning powers back to the neighbouring boroughs, please see our dedicated Transfer of Planning Powers webpage - Transfer of Planning Powers.

We are the Planning Policy and Decisions Directorate for London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). This privacy notice explains how we use information in the course of our work as a local planning authority. This work includes

• Making decisions and providing advice on planning applications.
• Making planning policies.
• Responding to allegations of unlawful development.
• Entering legal agreements, serving notices and promoting the best use of land.

If you have questions about data or privacy contact our Data Protection Officer.

We obtain applicant information from an applicant directly or via a planning agent on their behalf. This is submitted in hard copy or electronically, either by email or traditionally via the Government’s central planning service - The Planning Portal.

We also receive comments, representations, allegations and questions via email or letter.

To allow us to make decisions on their applications individuals must provide us with some personal data (eg: name, address, contact details). In a very small number of circumstances individuals will also provide us with “special category data” in support of their application.

We use the information provided to us, to make decisions about the use of land in the public interest. This is known as a “public task” and is why we do not need you to “opt in” to allow your information to be used. 

Some of the information provided to us, we are obliged under the regulations to make available on planning registers. This is a permanent record of our planning decisions that form part of the planning history of a site, along with other facts that form part of the “land search”. 

We do not sell your information to other organisations. We do not move your information beyond the UK. We do not use your information for automated decision making. 

We will make details of planning applications available online, via the planning register, so that people can contribute their comments. We will sometimes need to share the information we have with other parts of the LLDC, for example to establish how long a building has been used as a dwelling. 

We operate a policy where we redact details (names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers) before making documents available online. Sometimes we might decide it is necessary, justified and/or lawful to disclose specific data. In these circumstances we will let you know of our intention before we publish anything. 

If you are submitting supporting information or consultation comments which you would like to be treated confidentially or wish to be specifically withheld from the public register, please let us know as soon as you can. The best way to contact us about this issue is by email: planningenquiries@londonlegacy.co.uk.

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Making decisions on planning matters is a public task and you do not have the right to withdraw consent. However, if you think we have got something wrong or there is a reason you would prefer for something to not be disclosed please contact us by email: planningenquiries@londonlegacy.co.uk.

If you need to make a complaint specifically about the way we have processed your data you should in the first instance contact PPDT by email: planningenquiries@londonlegacy.co.uk.

If we fail to respond properly you can direct your concerns to the Information Commissioners Office.