Applying For Planning Permission
If you are thinking of applying for planning permission you may find the following information useful.
The majority of people use a planning professional, or ‘agent’ to submit an application on their behalf. If you decide to use an agent then your local council normally send all correspondence to that agent. If you submit the application yourself, then your local council will correspond directly with you. If you are submitting your application on paper you will need four copies of everything you submit. If you use the online facilities, you only need to submit one copy of everything.
The information you will need in support of your application is:
- Site location plan, shows the proposed application site outlined in red along with any other land you own outlined in blue. This needs to be at a scale of either 1:1250 or 1:2500.
- Block plan, this is a more detailed site location and needs to be at a scale of 1:500
- Any elevation drawings, both existing and proposed at a scale of 1:100.
- The correct fee.
You will need to decide what type of application you want to make. In most cases, if you know exactly what you want to do and have prepared detailed drawings, or if you want to change the use of your house or garden, you will need to make a ‘full’ application. If you want to see what the Council thinks about your proposal before you go to the trouble of making detailed drawings you might be able to make an ‘outline’ application, but check with your local Council.
You can obtain application forms and help in completing them at your local council Planning Reception. In addition you can access both printable forms on line by using the Council’s website as well as complete application forms on-line either by using the Council’s on-line service or the Planning Portal which is Government’s national on-line service: www.planningportal.co.uk
It is important to find out as early as possible whether your proposal is in line with the adopted Councils Local Development Framework, which can also be accessed on- line. If it clearly goes against the plan you will need to give reasons why the Council should set aside the plan.
Basic planning information will be provided at your council’s reception, including assistance with current planning applications. If assistance is required relating to a particular proposal or general advice is needed concerning a particular site, your local council request that you write in or telephone to make an appointment with a planning officer. This will enable the appropriate research and where necessary a site visit to be undertaken in advance.
There is generally no charge for this advice prior to the submission of a planning application and the Council will be able to give you some idea as to whether your application is likely to get planning permission; but this advice is not a firm promise. Sometimes the planning officer might suggest how you can change your proposals so that they are more likely to be approved.
How To Make A Planning Application
Once it has been decided which kind of application is required, 4 copies of the Government’s national standardised 1APP application form must be completed and submitted with the fee to the Council.
Advice Notes and Checklists containing advice on how to complete the form together with what types of plans and documents are required as well as the scale of fees are available on-line and can also be provided upon request. If you have any difficulties please contact your Council, where an officer will be able to assist you.
All applications must be accompanied by sufficient information to make the proposal clear. There should always be a location plan based on an Ordnance Survey map extract at: 1:1250 (for urban areas) or 1:2500 scale (for rural areas). In addition, applications for full planning permission normally require:
1) Site or block plan showing the proposal in relation to: the existing buildings on the site; the site boundaries; and adjoining properties at a scale of not less than 1:500 or 1/200.
(2) Existing and proposed floor, elevation, roof and sections drawings.
(3) A design and Access Statement which explains and justifies your proposal in planning terms. Guidance Notes are available upon request or on-line.
Processing The Application
When your council receive an application it is checked by the Administration section to ensure that it meets all requirements, is complete and that the appropriate fee has been included. It is then registered and other relevant Council departments, outside agencies and the local parish or neighbourhood council are consulted.
Also, publicity – by way of neighbour notification, site and press notices – is carried out in accordance with the criteria set out later in this chapter. The application is then passed to an officer in one of the two Development Management teams according to the location of the proposed development.
The case officer will consider the application in detail with a view to a decision being reached within 8 weeks. The role of the case officer is to:
- consider the comments received from any other relevant departments within the Authority or outside agencies;
- consider the comments received from neighbours, the public and the Parish or Neighbourhood Council;
The officer will also consider whether or not the application is acceptable In terms of:
- Local Development Framework policies
- Development Management criteria
- Previous site history
Development Management criteria may involve any of the following depending on the form of development and its complexity;
- the design and layout of the proposal
- highway considerations
- provision of car parking
- impact on the landscape
- effect on neighbouring property and local environment
- careful selection of materials
This list is not comprehensive; in the light of the foregoing some amendments may be required to the proposal, the officer will inform you or your agent and by negotiation these amendments may be incorporated.