Please see the list below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding planning permission for businesses and farmers:
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When you are preparing an online planning application you will need to add additional documents such as plans or drawings to support your application. This can be done via the 'Supporting Docs' screen.
Some document types, such as a site location plan and a block plan are required for all application types, others are requested specifically by local authorities. The documents required specifically by the local authority will be listed on the Supporting Docs screen.
There are two sections in the Supporting Docs screen: ‘Mandatory Documentation’ and ‘Local Level Requirements and optional documentation’.
You must attach at least one file to all documents listed in the Mandatory section - otherwise the section will not show as Complete and the application cannot be submitted.
You can add any additional supporting drawings in the ‘Local Level Requirements and optional documentation’ section. You should only add optional documents if you think they might help officials when considering your application.
Your local authority can offer advice on what extra drawings may be useful.
If you need to contact your LPA about drawings or documents you can find contact information for your authority on the Planning Portal.
If you have any queries regarding the plans offered by the accredited suppliers, please contact them directly.
All applications must be accompanied by a site location plan and a block plan. You can buy both types of plan through the Planning Portal.
A site location plan (sometimes called a 'location plan') shows the proposed development in relation to its surrounding properties.
It must be based on an up-to-date map and at an identified standard metric scale (typically 1:1250 or 1:2500).
The site of the proposed development needs to be outlined in red and any other land owned by the applicant that is close to or adjoining the site needs to be outlined in blue.
A block plan (sometimes and confusingly called a 'site plan') shows the proposed development in relation to the property boundary.
Block plans are typically submitted at a scale of either 1:200 or 1:500 and should include the following:
If you are not sure whether your plans are suitable or require further assistance you should contact your local planning authority for advice.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Portal.
The Supporting Docs section of your application will only appear complete if you have attached at least one document (or designated a postal submission) for every requested item of Mandatory Documentation.
If a document has been uploaded then the system will show ‘Remove’ and ‘Edit details’ links next to it (as shown in the green box in the image on the right).
Every entry in the ‘Mandatory documentation’ category must look like this before the system will allow you to submit the application.
Where a document has not been uploaded, the system will only display the ‘Add document’ link (as shown in the red box in the image on the right).
Please note that it is possible to add more than one attachment in a Mandatory document category.
The mandatory document types vary between local planning authorities. If you are unsure what is needed for any Mandatory document type please contact the local planning authority to which you are applying for advice.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority here.
The kinds of supporting documents required will vary from local planning authority to local planning authority and the type of application.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published details of the requirements for any supporting documentation.
You can find out more from this guidance on the DCLG website.
The Planning Portal application service can accept files in the following formats:
Please try to use file formats that keep file sizes as small as possible.
No individual file can be larger than 5MB.
You can add as many supporting documents as required. However, we recommend that you keep the total file size of your application documents to less than 25MB to ease the burden on local authority storage and transfer.
If you have files that will exceed these limits please save them to removable media such as a CD or submit them on paper and post to your local authority, clearly marking the items with the Planning Portal planning application reference number.
You should indicate that items have been submitted separately on the Supporting Docs screen.
Please do not submit .EXE files or use ZIP utilities to condense file sizes. These are not accepted either through the Portal or on disk as they may be rejected by anti-virus software.
Yes, you can buy a map to accompany your planning application from one of our accredited mapping partners.
You can buy your plans from here or from within the application service.
The Planning Portal decided to remove its own site location plan tool in Summer 2010 and work with its accredited partners instead.
