Mr. Gavin Lawlor:

Planning applications are not always for monster, 100 plus units. The vast majority, or quite a significant number of them, are smaller applications made by local residents who want to stick an extra glasshouse, garage or seomra in their back gardens. We have to be a little cautious about placing burdens on them. Traditionally, people could get their mate next door who is a technician to do up the drawings and lodge them with the planning authority. It was paper-based. That is why it is "may" as opposed to "shall".