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Application form plan When applying for permission please take time to read this section carefully as an application made on the wrong form can't be "transferred" to a different type of application, this is a common cause of delay.

There is one exception however, a residential extension can be made on either a Full Planning Permission form or a Householder Form, it's just there are fewer questions on the Full Planning Permission form.

There are essentially six types of planning application:

1. Householder 

2. Full 

3. Outline 

4. Reserved Matters 

5 Conservation Area and Listed Building Consent

6 Certificates of Lawfulness .

 

1. Householder

This shorter form is used to apply for small-scale development such as:

  • conservatories
  • extensions
  • new garages relating to a domestic home.

Technically, a householder application is still a "full" application (see below), this form is just a trimmed down version of the "full" form below. Clearly we don't need as much detail about a conservatory as a development of 100 flats.

If you are submitting one of these applications AND live in a Conservation Area, you will need to include a "Design and Access Statement". It is the document that sets out the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development. i.e. the amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the development, and how the design of the development takes into account its context. For help reading, writing and using these new statements, see the Related Documents section.

 

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2. Full

A full planning application requires the submission of all details of the proposal, in one go, usually so that building work can start soon after approval is granted. A "Full" application is the most common type of application and is appropriate in the following circumstances:

  • if you wish to change the use of land or buildings
  • if you have all the information ready for us and wish a scheme to be considered under a single application

Most "Full" applications must be accompanied by a "Design and Access Statement". This document sets out the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development - i.e. relating to the amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the development, and how the design of the development takes into account its context. For help reading, writing and using these new statements see the Related Documents section.

 

 

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3. Outline

An outline application is a good way to find out if the principle of development is acceptable to a local authority, without incurring the expenses associated with getting documents required for a Full PPP.  

Once outline permission has been granted, you then need to apply for approval of the details of the scheme (these are called "reserved matters"). You must do this within 2 years of the original application and clearly before any work starts on the ground.

As a minimum we now expect information on the following areas to accompany an Outline application:

  • Proposed use of land
  • Amount of development
  • Indicative layout
  • Scale parameters (eg: upper & lower limits of building dimensions)
  • Indicative access points to the local roads and footpaths.

 

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4. Reserved Matters

Reserved matters applications always "follow up" on an outline application, and add the details that were not supplied in the original application.

These details fall into five categories:

  • siting
  • design
  • external appearance
  • means of access
  • landscaping.

Your proposal must be consistent with the outline permission. If your proposals have changed in any way, you may need to reapply at Outline stage or make a Full Application.

 

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5. Conservation Area & Listed Building Consent

As a general rule, the "thresholds" by which permission is required are lower in Conservation Areas, and lower for Listed Buildings. Given that conducting unauthorised works to a Listed Building is a criminal offence, we strongly advise contacting us before commencing any works. Even cleaning a listed building can require permission, if certain chemicals are used!

Both of these application types attract no fee, and are often needed in addition to planning permission.

If you live in a Conservation Area and are doing pretty much anything other than the part or whole demolition of your home, you will not need Conservation Area Consent, just Planning Permission.

If you are thinking of making one of these types of application, amongst the usual requirements for drawings etc we also require a "Design and Access Statement". This document sets out the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development - i.e. relating to the amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the development, and how the design of the development looks compared with other buildings in the area. For help reading, writing and using these new statements, use the Related Documents section.

 

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6. Certificate of Lawfulness (CoL)

There are two types of certificate - existing and proposed use or development.

A CoL tests if the use or development of a building is lawful but can also be used to confirm that your proposal does not require permission.

Existing - Although not compulsory, a CoL (Existing) is the quickest way to test whether the use or activity continuing is lawful or requires consent. It will:

  • test formally that operations which have been carried out are lawful (i.e. building works)
  • test if your interpretation of conditions/limitations attached to a planning permission are lawful.

Certificates of Lawfulness (Existing) are charged at the full planning fee, so as not to reward those who didn't apply for permission, before commencing works.

Proposed - A CoL (proposed) may be applied for by anyone wishing to find out if:

  • any proposed use of buildings or other land is lawful or requires permission
  • the operation(s) proposed are lawful (i.e. building works) or require permission

CoL proposed applications are charged at half the normal fee.

 

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