Make a Planning Application

Information on how to make a new Planning Application, including our pre-application advice service and fees.

Planning permission

Not all work will require planning permission. Check on the Planning Portal Interactive Guide to see what does and doesn't need planning permission. If your property is a listed building you must also apply for listed building consent. Planning permission may also be needed if your property lies within a Conservation area.

Pre-application advice

Prior to making a planning application you are encouraged to use our Pre-application Service. This will enable the Council to provide you with guidance on the acceptability of a proposal before you go to the expense of submitting a formal application.

Submitting applications online

The quickest and easiest way to apply & pay for a planning application on the Planning Portal

Planning obligations

Developer contributions, affordable housing and other obligations are usually necessary for major developments. Our Typical Section 106 Requirements gives details of what we normally require. The council has a template section 106 agreement.

Time frames for decisions

Each planning decision will be judged on its own merits so it is impossible to give a set time frame for decisions to be made. We do however aim to comply with statutory time limits set out on the Gov.UK website

Validation documents

The National Validation List for Planning and Listed Building Consent Applications and Local Validation Requirements for Planning and other applications lists the documents and information you needed to include with your planning application. 

Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain

The Environment Act (2021) introduces a requirement the all planning permissions (with some exemptions) must deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain. This requirement will apply to major applications from 12 February 2024 and minor applications from 2 April onwards. Our Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements provides further information about the submission requirements.
 

Downloading application forms

If you prefer, you can also download all the planning application forms on the planning portal or via the Gov.UK website and submit them in hardcopy. Please note that we only require one hard copy of documents, with the exception of Major Commercial or Housing developments, where we require two copies.

Planning fees

The Guide to the Fees for Planning Applications in England lists the planning fees and charges.

The Planning Portal Fee Calculator takes you through a set of questions to help workout your planning application fee.