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Requesting an application

If you do not own the property, or if you have only part-ownership, you have to inform the owner or those who share ownership, including any leaseholder whose lease still has seven or more years to run, and any agricultural tenant.

If you think you might need to apply for planning permission, contact the planning department of your council.

If they think you need to apply for planning permission, ask them for an application form. They will tell you how many copies of the form you will need to send back and how much the application fee will be. Ask if they foresee any difficulties which could be overcome by amending your proposal. It can save time or trouble later if the proposals you want to carry out also reflect what the council would like to see.

Choose the appropriate application you need to make. In most cases this will be a full application. But there are a few circumstances when you may want to make an outline application - for example, if you want to see what the council thinks of the building work you intend to carry out before you go to the trouble of making detailed drawings (but you will still need to submit details at a later stage). Occasionally, for planning reasons, the council may insist on a full application even if you would prefer to make an outline application.

Send the completed application forms to your council, together with the correct fee. Each form must be accompanied by a plan of the site and a copy of the drawings showing the work you propose to carry out.

You can use the following link that will let you enter details of where you live and take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.

• Find your local council planning department Opens new window

Planning permission decisions

If you are planning any building work, demolitions or construction related projects you need to apply to your local council. The planning department will decide whether your project is allowed to take place. This is known as giving planning permission.

Decisions are recorded in the Statutory Decision Register. Many approved applications are subject to conditions. The register should also give guidance on what to do if you are not happy with the decision. Unless the Statutory Decision Register says otherwise, development agreed in the past could begin at any time within three years of the date permission was given. Contact your local council for more details about previously approved developments.

Search for planning permission decisions in your area

Many local councils have their Statutory Decision Register available on their website; however, you should also be able to ask over the phone or in person at the public reception. The following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.

• Search the register of planning decisions Opens new window

If you are looking for planning applications in your area you can also use the Planning Portal's National Planning Application Register, which allows you to search for planning applications and decisions in England and Wales.

• More information on the National Planning Application Register Opens new window

The decision process

The council will aim to decide your application within eight weeks. If it cannot do so, it will usually seek your written consent to extend the period. For example, this could occur if the issues involved are complex or a lot of people are affected by the proposed development. 

• Planning Portal - how will the decision be made Opens new window

Making a planning application online

You can now make a planning application online from the Planning Portal (if your local council is participating in the scheme). 

It enables you to create a planning application and send it electronically to your local planning authority along with any attachments, or complete the forms on your computer then print and send them by post as part of a traditional paper application.

• Find your local council
• Planning Portal - make a planning application Opens new window

Public building work that affects local businesses and residents is planned around results from public consultations. Ask your local council for details.

• Community involvement in planning

Support and advice

You can get support and advice on planning issues from planning consultants or Planning Aid Services.

You can find consultants through the Online Directory of Planning Consultants which lists around 460 consultancies providing expertise in every field of planning.

Planning Aid is a voluntary service offering free, independent and professional advice on town planning matters to community groups and individuals who cannot afford to employ a planning consultant.

• Access the Online Directory of Planning Consultants Opens new window
• Get support and advice on planning issues from Planning Aid Services Opens new window