Types of Application and Fees
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There are various types of building and land works, each requiring a different type of application to be made.
How to get the correct Application Form
To download the appropriate application form see our Application Forms webpage.
Application Fees
For details of the appropriate fees, please see Fees List.
Application Types
Full Planning Permission
This is appropriate where the principle of development is not likely to be in doubt and is the normal method of seeking permission for house extensions etc.
An Outline Application
Will establish whether a proposal is acceptable in principle before fully detailed drawings are prepared. An outline application is not appropriate if the development is for a change of use.
With an application for outline planning permission, detailed consideration will always be required on the use and the amount of development. Even if layout, scale and access are reserved, an application will still require a basic level of information on these issues in the application.
As a minimum, therefore, applications should always include information on:
- Use - defined as the use or uses proposed for the development and any distinct development zones within the site identified.
- Amount of development - the amount of development proposed for each use.
- Indicative layout - an indicative layout with separate development zones proposed within the site boundary where appropriate.
- Scale parameters - an indication of the upper and lower limits for height, width and length of each building within the site boundary.
- Indicative access points - an area or areas in which the access point or points to the site will be situated.
Approval of Reserved Matters
An outline application must be followed by an application for the 'approval of reserved matters'. It should include the following details (unless these details have been provided as part of the outline approval):
- Layout - the way in which buildings, routes and open spaces are provided within the development and their relationship to buildings and spaces outside the development.
- Scale - the height, width and length of each building proposed in relation to its surroundings.
- Appearance - the aspects of a building or place which determine the visual impression it makes, excluding the external built form of the development.
- Access - this covers accessibility to and within the site for vehicles, cycles and pedestrians in terms of the positioning and treatment of access and circulation routes and how these fit into the surrounding access network.
- Landscaping - this is the treatment of private and public space to enhance or protect the site's amenity through hard and soft measures, for example, through planting of trees or hedges or screening by fences or walls.
Listed Building Consent
This must be obtained for any alterations, internal or external, which might affect the character or appearance of a building listed as being of special architectural or historic interest.
Conservation Area Consent
This must be obtained if it is proposed to demolish all or part of an unlisted building within a Conservation Area.
Advertisement Consent
This is required to display the majority of external advertisements. This includes temporary signs such as estate agents boards, dependent on the number of boards.
Renewal of Temporary Permission
This must be made before the existing temporary permission expires.
Lawful Development Certificate
This procedure enables a planning authority to determine whether or not a development has become immune from enforcement action, or whether planning permission is required for an existing or proposed use or operation.
Non-Material Amendments to Planning Permission
New legislation came in on 01 October 2009 which legally allows the Council to approve non material changes to approved developments (SI 2009 no2261 T and C Planning (GDP) (Amendment no 3) (England) Order 2009.
We previously used to call these minor amendments. Forms are available on this site.
What is a non material amendment?
Anything but the most insignificant change would need to be dealt with by the submission of a new planning application.
For example we could not accept amendments as non material if:
- The application site area (red line) differs from the original application
- The application description differs from the original application
- The proposal would result in changes to the external details (eg facing materials or roof shape) that would materially alter the appearance of the building
- The amendment significantly increases the size of any part of the development
- The development moves more than 1 metre in any direction
- The height of the building or structure is increased
- If the amendment locates any part of the development closer to a neighbour unless the development as amended is in excess of 5 metres from the common boundary with the neighbour
- The amendment results in a fundamental change in the design of the building
- If The amendment changes windows or doors in any elevation facing a neighbour which increases overlooking in any way
- The amendment would result in a greater visual intrusion, loss of light or feeling of enclosure to neighbours
- There were any relevant objections to the original proposal which would be compromised by the proposed minor amendment
Key points of the new application procedure
- Applications can only be made by someone who has a legal interest in the land, i.e., it does not have to be the original applicant.
- Notice has to be served by the applicant on any owner of any land to which the application relates.
- We will take owner to include the actual owner, someone with an interest in the land in excess of 7 years (such as a tenant) or someone who has exchanged contracts to purchase the land.
- No Design and Access Statement is necessary.
- There is a standard application form on the Planning Portal and our website - Note: This form is not currently available to complete online on the Planning Portal.
- The fee is currently £28 for householders and £195 in all other cases;
- The Council will charge for pre application advice as previously.
- Neighbour notification and consultation is discretionary; the Council will not undertake notification and consultation in most cases.
- The application is not for a new permission so it will not be necessary to repeat conditions from the original permission. Conditions on the original application cannot be varied or removed.
- If the amendment is such that a new condition is necessary, then it cannot be a non material amendment and a fresh application will be required.
- The application will not count towards the statistical returns.
- Applications and decisions must go on the planning register.
- The Council have to take into account any comments received within 14 days of any notice being served on an owner.
- There is no prescribed form of decision, but it must be in writing.
- Decisions are expected to be issued within 28 days.
- Normal rights of appeal apply.
What you should do if you are proposing a non material amendment
If you are proposing minor changes from the approved plans that you think could be considered as a non-material amendment, then you should contact the case officer who originally dealt with your application. He or she will be able to advise if the amendments can benefit from this procedure, or whether a new application will be required. There is no charge for this advice.
If you submit an application without any reference beforehand to officers, then we are obliged to register it and determine it. In that scenario you run the risk that the decision will be to refuse the application because it cannot be considered as a non-material amendment, even though it may be acceptable. You would then have to formally submit a fresh application.
The message therefore is to talk to us informally beforehand!
Detailed guidance from the Department of Communities and Local Government is available on their website: Communities and Local Government
