Planning application forms and validation procedures

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004)

The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 [to be amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Amendment) (England) Order 2008]

The Government has introduced a national mandatory standard application form that became mandatory from 6 April 2008. Alongside this, and to support the use of this standard application form, the Government introduced information requirements for the validation of planning applications by local planning authorities.

Standard application form

The standard application form is the only legal method of submitting most planning applications. The standard planning application form is available online via the Planning Portal and in a paper format from local planning authorities.

The Government wishes to encourage applicants to submit applications electronically wherever possible, as it is considered that this provides opportunities for streamlining procedures and thereby reducing costs. However applicants retain the option of submitting paper versions of the form.

The standard application form covers the following types of application:

  • Householder consents;
  • Outline and full planning permission and approval of reserved matters;
  • Listed Building consent;
  • Conservation Area consent;
  • Advertisement consent;
  • Consent under Tree Preservation Orders;
  • Certificates of Lawful Development;
  • Applications for Prior Notification/Approval under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (the GPDO); and
  • Removal or variation of conditions.

» Download the forms from the Planning Portal

National and local requirements for validation

Different types and scale of application require different levels of information and supporting documentation to be submitted. In all cases the local planning authority specify the requirements. Under the new arrangements. These comprise a national core list that will apply in all cases, and additional items specified locally.

The national list sets out statutory requirements for applications. These requirements include the completed application form; the correct fee (where one is necessary); ownership certificates; agricultural holdings certificate; Design and Access Statement (where one is necessary); the location plan; other plans and drawings or information necessary to describe the subject of the application and environmental statement (where one is necessary).

The local list comprises additional information that local planning authorities can require to validate an application. It is intended that the combined use of the national and local list will afford both the authority and applicant more certainty about the type of information required at the outset and help to ensure that the information requested is proportionate to the type and scale of application being made.