Applying for planning permission is a formal legal process that requires a correctly submitted application, the right supporting documents, and payment of the statutory fee. For most householder applications the process is straightforward when approached methodically. This guide covers the steps from preparing the application to receiving the decision.

Step 1: Determine What You Need

Before preparing an application, confirm that planning permission is actually required for your proposal. Many common householder works are permitted development and do not need a planning application. If you are unsure, a pre-application enquiry to the local planning authority or a Lawful Development Certificate application provides clarification without a full planning application. A planning consultant or architect familiar with local permitted development rules can advise quickly on whether permission is needed.

Step 2: Prepare the Application

A householder planning application requires a completed application form, a site location plan showing the property within its surroundings, a site plan or block plan showing the property boundary and the proposed development footprint, existing and proposed elevation drawings and floor plans, a completed ownership certificate, and payment of the statutory fee. For more complex applications, additional supporting documents such as a design and access statement, heritage impact statement, or ecological survey may be required.

Drawings for planning applications must be at a scale sufficient to assess the proposal accurately, typically 1:100 for floor plans and elevations and 1:1250 for the site plan. An architect or architectural technician can prepare these drawings at reasonable cost for a straightforward householder application.

Step 3: Submit Through the Planning Portal

Planning applications in England are submitted through the national Planning Portal at planningportal.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk, which provides an online submission route for all local planning authorities. Applications can also be submitted directly to the local planning authority by post or email in some cases, though the Planning Portal is the standard and recommended route. The portal allows you to build the application online, attach documents, pay the fee, and track the progress of the application.

Step 4: The Decision Period

The local planning authority has eight weeks from validation of the application to issue a decision for most householder applications. During this period the application is publicised, neighbours are notified, statutory consultees are contacted, and the planning officer assesses the proposal against national policy and the local plan. The officer then issues either a delegated decision or a recommendation to the planning committee if the application is contentious or significant.

Step 5: After the Decision

If approved, the decision notice will include any conditions that must be complied with before or during development. If refused, the reasons for refusal are set out in the decision notice and can inform whether to appeal, revise the application, or abandon the proposal. Conditions attached to approvals are legally binding; development must not begin until any pre-commencement conditions have been discharged.

Summary

Planning applications are submitted through the Planning Portal with the required drawings, documents, and fee. Householder applications are decided within eight weeks. The application must be valid on submission to start the decision clock. Approved applications include conditions that must be followed. Refused applications can be appealed or revised and resubmitted.