How we validate a planning application
Once we receive an application, we will check that all the necessary information is present and other validation requirements have been met.
We aim to either validate your application or notify that your application is invalid within 10 working days of receipt of your application.
If your application is considered valid, we will notify you, confirming registration and advising you of the application number and name of your Case Officer. This will commence the consultation period.
If your application is invalid, you will be notified. This notification will outline the reasons why and explain what information is required to validate your application.
You will be given one attempt within 14 days from sending out the invalid letter to provide sufficient information to progress the application. Should the application still be invalid, the application shall be returned along with any fee received.
Any further attempts would need to be submitted as a fresh application.
For a planning application to be considered valid, the information provided must be sufficient to meet national validation requirements and be accompanied by the correct fee. The Government provides useful information on the requirements, which can be found below in the external links.
It is highly recommended that you instruct a planning agent to provide this information on your behalf, a useful external link to the Planning Portal is provided below.
The information required to validate an application is set out in our checklist and is briefly outlined below. The information required will vary dependent on the proposal and application type though all applications should include:
- Application Form
- Location & Site Plans
- Scale Plans
- Correct Fee for your application type
The Application Form must be fully completed to the best of your knowledge including the ownership certificate.
Should any part of the development be outside the applicant’s area of ownership, including overhanging a boundary, it is important to have completed the correct certificate to avoid delays later in the process.
The location and site plans must be based on an up-to-date Ordnance Survey map using an identified standard metric scale (typically 1:1250 or 1:2500 for larger sites). The plan must show a red line to highlight the boundary of the development site with a blue line around any additional land owned by the applicant and must include the direction north, the name or number of neighbouring sites and two named roads where possible.
A Site Plan must additionally show any alterations or material information within the site such as parking provision or existing structures.
Plans and Maps can be purchased on the Planning Portal or through a planning Agent, useful external links for both of these are included below.
Scaled plans should include elevations, floor, roof, sections or any other plans which demonstrate the proposed development. Any plans submitted should be provided as existing and proposed plans and be produced so that third parties, such as neighbours who may not be familiar with reading location plans, can understand them.
The plans must be drawn using an identified metric scale (typically 1:50 or 1:100) on a recognised paper size (typically A4 or A3) with this information noted on the plans (for example scale 1:100 @ A4). The drawings will need to be to scale with a scale bar or critical dimensions included on the plan. Each plan should be clearly annotated with a title outlining what the plan shows (for example ‘Existing Ground Floor Plan’) and where applicable show the proposal in context of neighbouring structures.
It is important to note that any grant of planning permission would be conditioned to be built in accordance with the submitted plans. The accuracy of the information is important, therefore, to avoid any delay determining the application.