Before submitting a formal planning permission application, it is useful to have an informal discussion with a local planning officer. This pre-application advice, which may incur a charge, can help you understand how any local planning policies could affect your application and reduce the likelihood of submitting an invalid application.
Most planning applications are submitted online through the Planning Portal. This can be done personally or handled by an architect, solicitor or planning consultant. Specific planning consents may need to be applied for (eg listed building consent), as well as building regulations approval (submitted via a separate application). The application should include:
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location plan and site plan
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any necessary supporting documentation (eg ownership certificate and design and access statement)
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completed standard application form
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relevant application fee, and
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any specific documentation required by the local planning authority
Once the application is submitted it will normally take a few days for the local planning authority to validate the request (if it is deemed invalid, reasons should be given in writing). The application will then be publicised and consulted upon (eg views/opinions may be sought from neighbours) before being sent to the planning committee or a senior planning officer who will make a decision. The majority of planning applications will receive a decision within eight weeks - but more complex applications can take up to 13 weeks.