Make a planning application

Plan and drawing requirements

All plans and drawings must be drawn to an appropriate metric scale and have all relevant dimensions of the key elements of the proposal clearly written. This includes the height, length, width and (if relevant) the distance from the site boundary of any proposed works. We require this so that the proposed dimensions are clear when plans are viewed online.

Scaling should be associated with sheet size so that it is clear when documents have been enlarged or reduced. An acceptable format is for the scale to be shown as 1:100 at A1 or 1:200 at A3. This also applies to paper submissions which may be forwarded electronically for consultation.

Vertical and horizontal scale bars assist with measuring from enlarged or reduced drawings.

Drawings should be accurate. Ambiguous statements such as 'Do not scale', and 'Not to scale', call the accuracy of the drawing into question and therefore cannot be accepted.

Documents

• Electronic documents should be unprotected so that personal data can be redacted
• Electronic documents should be of a sufficiently small file size to facilitate easy transfer and transmission (individual documents should be no larger than 20MB)
• Supporting documents should be provided in electronic format - multiple or split documents should be sequentially named (e.g. 01 Introduction, 02 Site Plan, 03 Appendix A)

Location plans

This is needed to identify the property so that everyone knows which house is applying for planning permission.

We cannot accept Land Registry plans or plans using Ordnance Survey data that have no OS copyright statement.

The application site (including access to the adopted highway) must be edged in red. This red line must include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development (including the land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around buildings)

If your application is for new or altered access then all the area needing work (including the area of dropped kerb) must also be included in the red line.

Any adjoining land in which the applicant has an interest should be edged in blue.

The scale of the location plan must be appropriate to sufficiently identify the site. In most cases, an ordnance survey-based map to a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500 will be adequate.

The location plan should:

• be A4 sized, or A3 for larger sites
• based on an up-to-date map
• include a 'North' point
• show surrounding buildings
• ideally show two named roads

If an Ordnance Survey map is issued please ensure that a copyright statement is included (e.g. ‘Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright [and database right] 2015’)

Block plans or site layouts

A block plan (or site plan) is required if you are extending your house or erecting buildings within your garden curtilage:

• the plan must be to a scale appropriate to the site and development (normally 1:500 or 1:200, although for particularly large sites, other scales may be more appropriate) - If in doubt, check with us
• all site layout and block plans to include a 'North' point.

The plan should show your proposals for: 

• the new works in relation to the site boundaries, the neighbouring properties, other existing buildings and features such as trees within or adjacent to the site
• new buildings should be shown in context with adjacent buildings including property numbers or names where applicable and roads and footpaths adjoining the site
• on-site access, parking, and turning arrangements and facilities for cycle parking
• vehicle access visibility splays at the highway boundary
• the species, position and spread of all trees within 12 metres of any proposed building works
• the extent and type of any hard surfacing
• boundary treatment (including all heights and materials)
• applications for new developments must include provision for the storage and collection of waste and recyclables

Elevations and floor plans

We cannot accept drawings with 'do not scale' written on them.

These should show the existing and proposed elevations and floor plans of each storey to be built or altered. Partial elevations and floor plans are not acceptable as your proposal needs to be considered in relation to the whole of the existing building

They should normally be to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100. New works should be clearly identified and show all openings 

The positions of doors and windows must be identical on the elevations and floor plans. These should show all faces of the building affected by the works, including blank walls

Where the elevation adjoins or is near another building, drawings should show the relationship between the buildings and the position of openings on each property. Existing and proposed drawings should be submitted. They may be drawn separately or the new work may be indicated by shading.

Each elevation should be labelled to show its compass orientation.

Last updated 30 December 2022