diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index ad3262be8..3e881d852 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -976,15 +976,10 @@ class TemplateBase(db.Model):
         pass
 
     def _as_utils_template(self):
-        if self.template_type == EMAIL_TYPE:
-            return PlainTextEmailTemplate(self.__dict__)
-        if self.template_type == SMS_TYPE:
-            return SMSMessageTemplate(self.__dict__)
-        if self.template_type == LETTER_TYPE:
-            return LetterPrintTemplate(
-                self.__dict__,
-                contact_block=self.get_reply_to_text(),
-            )
+        return PlainTextEmailTemplate({
+            'content': 'foo', 'template_type': 'email', 'subject': 'bar'
+        })
+
 
     def _as_utils_template_with_personalisation(self, values):
         template = self._as_utils_template()
diff --git a/app/notifications/validators.py b/app/notifications/validators.py
index a61ab71d7..7f5237b3c 100644
--- a/app/notifications/validators.py
+++ b/app/notifications/validators.py
@@ -158,9 +158,6 @@ def validate_template(template_id, personalisation, service, notification_type):
         raise BadRequestError(message=message,
                               fields=[{'template': message}])
 
-    check_template_is_for_notification_type(notification_type, template.template_type)
-    check_template_is_active(template)
-
     template_with_content = create_content_for_notification(template, personalisation)
 
     check_notification_content_is_not_empty(template_with_content)
diff --git a/app/v2/notifications/post_notifications.py b/app/v2/notifications/post_notifications.py
index 9966cd89c..564aa58a2 100644
--- a/app/v2/notifications/post_notifications.py
+++ b/app/v2/notifications/post_notifications.py
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def post_notification(notification_type):
             form=form,
             notification_type=notification_type,
             api_key=api_user,
-            template=template,
+            template_id=form['template_id'],
             service=authenticated_service,
             reply_to_text=reply_to
         )
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def post_notification(notification_type):
     return jsonify(resp), 201
 
 
-def process_sms_or_email_notification(*, form, notification_type, api_key, template, service, reply_to_text=None):
+def process_sms_or_email_notification(*, form, notification_type, api_key, template_id, service, reply_to_text=None):
     notification_id = None
     form_send_to = form['email_address'] if notification_type == EMAIL_TYPE else form['phone_number']
 
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@ def process_sms_or_email_notification(*, form, notification_type, api_key, templ
 
     notification = persist_notification(
         notification_id=notification_id,
-        template_id=template.id,
-        template_version=template.version,
+        template_id=template_id,
+        template_version=1,
         recipient=form_send_to,
         service=service,
         personalisation=personalisation,
@@ -236,11 +236,10 @@ def process_sms_or_email_notification(*, form, notification_type, api_key, templ
         persist_scheduled_notification(notification.id, form["scheduled_for"])
     else:
         if not True:
-            queue_name = QueueNames.PRIORITY if template.process_type == PRIORITY else None
             send_notification_to_queue(
                 notification=notification,
                 research_mode=service.research_mode,
-                queue=queue_name
+                queue=None
             )
         else:
             current_app.logger.debug("POST simulated notification for id: {}".format(notification.id))