General Advice
Whether you apply online or using paper forms please be aware that the Council will only accept applications accompanied by the relevant ‘checklist’ and with the relevant statutory ‘design and access statement’. If you apply using paper forms please note that you need only sign one form with your personal details. One of the other three forms will be used for the website display without any signatures or personal details. Please make sure your application is complete with the correct plans and fee before submission to avoid delay.
Types of Application
There are several types of application. These include:
A Householder Application for domestic extensions, garage, conservatories, walls and fences and access to the highway. You may first want to check whether you need permission or whether the work might be 'Permitted Development'.
An Outline Application, which is appropriate when you wish to establish the principle of a particular building proposal. In straightforward cases all that would be required in the way of plans would be a site plan (probably at 1:2500 scale) with the application site outlined in red. In some cases more details may be requested before a decision can be given.
A Detailed Application, which is appropriate either following the grant of permission to an outline application (when invariably further details would be required) or where it is important to consider the details of the development from the outset. Such applications apply, for example, proposals within conservation areas or affecting listed buildings and extensions to houses. It is generally at this stage that a qualified person will be required to draw up the plans.
A change of use application, which normally applies where the application relates to the change of use of a building or area of land. Some plans may be required to indicate where the uses will take place in the building or on the land, but generally less detail may be required than for detailed applications.
An application for a certificate of lawful use or development, which may be made if you wish to obtain formal confirmation that: a) A proposed development would be lawful if carried out without planning permission; or b) An existing use is lawful and enforcement action cannot be taken against it, since it has existed continuously for 4 or 10 years (depending upon the use). The onus is on you to submit evidence to satisfy the Council that the use has existed during this time, and often witnessed statements from third parties will be needed.
A Listed Building Consent application, which is referred to later in this document.
A Conservation Area Consent application, which concerns the proposed demolition of a non-listed building in a conservation area.
An Advertisement Consent application, which relates to the display of advertisements. Here, too, the Regulations are complex, and it is best to consult the Development Control Section for advice. As a basic guide, it is best to start from the premise that all outdoor advertising is subject to control: you will be advised which types of advertisement fall outside the scope of the Regulations.
