Please note that much time is taken dealing with planning applications that are 'invalid' as they have been submitted without all of the required information.
Please make sure you refer to our local validation criteria before submitting an application.
Pre-application advice
Before submitting a planning application, it may be worth considering applying for some pre-application advice. This service aims to take some of the uncertainty out of the planning process and offers you constructive and without prejudice advice on the likelihood of your proposal receiving planning permission.
How to apply for planning permission and our requirements.
Apply online
Using the Planning Portal you can complete your application form, most types of forms are available, attach supporting documents and pay your fee online saving you the cost of printing and postage.
If you prefer, you can complete your application form and pay your fee online and then submit supporting documents by post, quoting your Planning Portal application number.
Apply by post
Application forms can be printed from the Planning Portal website and posted, along with any other supporting information.
Requirements
Before you submit your application you should refer to the local validation criteria which explains what information is needed at the start of the planning process to help us register your application.
A planning application cannot be progressed until all the necessary supporting information and the appropriate fee is received.
Finding an architect
Whilst the council is unable to recommend any architects, surveyors, builders or other tradesmen, applicants may find the Architects Registration Board's register of architects of use.
Please note that from 1 April 2022 there will be a charge of £80 for written responses to planning enquiries.
Email restrictions
An email size limit of 15MB applies.
See guidance on reducing file sizes from the Planning Portal.
If you do need to send large files we can only accept them via our Send Secure service.
Planning application documents are published on our website, however before publishing, we are required by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), related legislation and best practise to remove 'personal information'.
The following information is asked for on an application form:
- telephone number
- email address
- signatures
We will endeavour to remove this personal information before publishing.
There are occasions when other personal information is submitted within supporting documents, this personal information can include:
- financial information
- car registration plates
- photos of individuals
- a persons age
- physical or mental health information
- views on other individuals - such as their health or anything defamatory or libellous
- how long a person has resided at a property
- a persons employment history
- criminal record - including alleged offences
- children
- racial or ethnic origin
- religious or other beliefs
- political opinions
- membership of a trade union
- sexual orientation or how a person identifies
- and any other information which may identify an individual person or persons
Even if the applicant, or a person making comments on an application, wants the personal information to be published online, we must endeavour to remove it.
Therefore when submitting an application or comments please can you make sure that the above personal information is only submitted if it is a planning consideration, for example, financial information which may support a change of use application from a business to a dwelling to show that a business is not viable or information to show that a fee is not required as the proposed development is for the sole use of a disabled person. We will endeavour to make sure this information is not published online.
If you submit personal information as set out above please can you ensure that it is either referred to in a covering letter - or contained within a separate document to aid identification and removal from the documents which will be published online.