Applying for Planning Permission
To apply for planning permission, the applicant submits a set of forms and plans. The forms vary slightly between local authorities. They are intended to give enough information for the application to be considered and judged in relation to its surroundings.
Applicants have to certify that they have told everybody who has a legal interest in the site about the application, though the applicant does not have to own the site to make the application. The applicant has no duty to tell their neighbours they are making an application.
The applicant usually has to pay a fee when making an application. The amount is laid down by legislation and the application can't proceed until the full fee has been paid. Planning fees increase at regular intervals and are intended to reflect the amount of work undertaken by the local authority in dealing with the application.
The application is checked to ensure it is complete and then registered. The register is open to public inspection. A weekly list of applications is usually circulated to all councillors and is available to other parties who may sometimes have to pay for it.
Page updated: 28 Feb 2007