How to Apply for Planning Permission: A UK Guide

Short Version

• Most planning applications in England and Wales are submitted online via the Planning Portal.

• You must provide specific documents, including location plans, site plans (often called block plans), and elevations, all drawn to a recognised metric scale.

• Your application is only accepted once the council's planning department validates it, confirming all necessary documents and the correct fee have been received. The 8-week decision clock starts after validation, not upon submission.

• For complex projects, consider using a planning agent and the council's paid pre-application advice service to identify potential issues early.

The Planning Application Journey: An Overview

Applying for planning permission can seem daunting, but it's a structured process with clear requirements. The goal is to provide your Local Planning Authority (LPA) with all the information it needs to decide whether your proposed development is acceptable. While the specifics can vary slightly between councils, the core steps are consistent across England and Wales. The key to success is thorough preparation to ensure your application is deemed "valid" on the first attempt.

Step 1: Preparation is Everything – What You'll Need

Before you even log on to the Planning Portal, you need to assemble your documentation. An invalid application is the most common cause of delay, and it's almost always due to missing or incorrect documents. As a minimum, every application requires:

• The Correct Application Form: For most home extensions, this will be the "Householder Application for Planning Permission". For new builds or conversions, it will be a "Full Planning Permission" application.

• A Location Plan: This must show the site in its wider context, outlined in red, on an up-to-date Ordnance Survey base map. It is typically at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500 and must show at least two named roads.

• A Site Plan (or Block Plan): This shows the development in more detail, including the property boundaries, the proposed works, and any public rights of way. This is usually at a scale of 1:200 or 1:500.

• Architectural Drawings: You will need existing and proposed drawings for elevations, floor plans, and roof plans. These must be drawn to a recognised scale (e.g., 1:50 or 1:100) and include a scale bar.

• The Correct Fee: Application fees are set nationally. The Planning Portal has a built-in fee calculator to determine the exact cost.

Crucially, you must also check your council's "local validation list." This is a list of extra documents the council requires for certain types of applications, which goes beyond the national requirements. This could include a Design and Access Statement, a heritage statement, or a flood risk assessment. Failing to check the local list is a primary reason for invalidation.

Step 2: To Pre-Apply or Not to Pre-Apply?

For anything other than a very simple extension, it is worth considering the council's pre-application advice service. This is a formal, paid-for service where a planning officer will review your draft proposals and provide written feedback on the likelihood of success. They will highlight potential policy conflicts or design issues before you spend a significant amount on detailed drawings and the main application fee. While it adds an upfront cost, this advice can save you thousands in the long run by preventing a refusal and the need for a costly redesign or appeal.

Step 3: Submitting Your Application via the Planning Portal

The vast majority of applications in England and Wales are now made online through the Planning Portal. This is the official government-endorsed submission route. The system guides you through the process, ensuring you have selected the correct form and helps you attach all your documents electronically. You can also use it to buy professional-quality site and location plans and to pay your application fee securely. Once submitted, the Portal sends your application directly to the relevant LPA. For those unable to use the online system, paper forms are still available to download and submit by post.

Step 4: The Crucial Validation Stage

This is the step that catches most people out. The 8-week statutory timeframe for a decision on a minor application does not begin when you click "submit." It begins once a planning officer has reviewed your submission and confirmed it is valid. A validation officer will check:

• Have you filled out the form correctly?

• Are all the national and local list documents included?

• Are the plans drawn to a recognised scale and clearly labelled?

• Has the correct fee been paid?

If anything is missing or incorrect, your application will be made invalid, and the council will write to you explaining what else is needed. This can easily add weeks or even months of delay to your project.

Step 5: The Decision Period

Once your application is validated, it is assigned to a case officer. It will be published on the council's website, and your neighbours and relevant parish councils will be consulted. After the consultation period, the officer will assess the proposal against local and national planning policies and make a recommendation. Most straightforward householder applications are decided by a senior planning officer under "delegated powers." More complex or controversial schemes may be referred to the local planning committee for a decision by elected councillors. You should receive a decision within eight weeks for minor applications or 13 weeks for major ones, unless a different timescale has been agreed upon.