New software is being installed to deliver a better and more efficient service, including a new portal for viewing planning and building standards applications online.

In order to carry out the upgrade, the council said normal service delivery will be affected between February 2 and 23. The processing of new applications will be affected during these dates as well progress on applications that have been previously submitted.

Planning committee chair, Councillor Alistair Fulton, said the local authority is asking people, where possible, to wait until after these dates to submit an application or to get in contact about an application already submitted.

“While officers will be available, it would be helpful between these dates to limit any communication with Planning and Building Standards services to essential matters,” he said.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that will be caused by this essential upgrade.”