You’ve done the preparation, here’s how to submit and follow your application.
Most planning applications in England are submitted online using the national Planning Portal. This ensures your forms, drawings, supporting documents and fees reach us securely.
You’ll need to:
If you cannot apply online, you can download paper forms from the Planning Portal and send them to our Planning Department.
Once we receive your application, the council’s planning team will guide it through several clear stages:
Typical time: 5–10 working days
The first step is validation.
This is when the planning team checks that:
At this stage, the council is not deciding whether your proposal is acceptable. They are simply checking that they have everything needed to assess it properly.
We recommend that you check the relevant validation criteria checklists for the type of application you are making, to make sure you have all the information you need when submitting and to avoid delays.
If information is missing or unclear, your application will not be validated. The planning team will contact you to explain what needs to be provided.
Administrative charges for 'technically deleted' applications
An administrative charge may apply if a planning application cannot be validated and is closed by the council.
A charge only applies if the application is technically deleted because it was never made valid. In these cases, the council will deduct an administrative charge and refund the remaining fee.
| Details | Fee |
|---|---|
| Enlargement, improvement or other alteration to a dwellinghouse including works within the curtilage | £135 |
| Discharge of condition or non-material amendment (other than those relating to an enlargement, improvement or other alteration to a dwellinghouse) | £135 |
| Minor Application | £159 |
| Major Application (non-referable to the Mayor of London) | £356 |
| Major Application (referable to the Mayor of London) | £627 |
Consultation period: 21 days
Once your application is validated, it moves on to the consultation phase. This is where your application appears on the Council website and can be viewed by the public.
As part of our consultation process, we give neighbours and other interested parties (such as Highways, Conservation, or Environment teams) the opportunity to comment on your proposal. We may also display a site notice or advertise in the local press if required.
Comments that are submitted online are visible online, and you can view the feedback submitted. Comments can also be submitted via email or letter. You will need to request to see these from the council.
If you’re responding to neighbour comments, we recommend keeping discussions polite and factual - your planning officer will balance all views when assessing your proposal.
A planning officer reviews your proposal, visits the site if needed, and considers all comments and policies. They may contact you or your agent if they need any points of clarification.
Sometimes, during the detailed assessment stage, the case officer may realise that additional or corrected information is needed (for example, amended plans or missing technical details).
If this happens:
Once the missing or corrected information is submitted and the application is re‑validated:
This can add time to the process, which is why submitting a clear and complete application from the start is important.
Decision target: 8 weeks for minor applications, 13 weeks for major ones.
The planning officer prepares a report and recommendation. Minor applications are usually decided by planning officers under delegated powers; larger or sensitive applications may go to Planning Committee.
You’ll receive a written decision notice by email or post.
If permission is granted, it may include conditions you must follow before or during construction.
The Community Infrastructure Levy, often called CIL, is a charge that councils can apply to some building projects. CIL helps pay for local infrastructure, such as roads, schools, health facilities and open spaces, needed to support development in the area.
For most home improvement projects, you are unlikely to need to pay CIL unless your work:
Some projects may qualify for relief or exemption, meaning you may not have to pay. This can include:
The council will tell you if CIL is payable, but you must provide the right information and apply for any relief or exemption before work starts. If you do not follow the correct process, you may lose the relief and have to pay CIL. Find out more about The Community Infrastructure Levy
You can sign up to our online planning system to view your application’s progress, submitted documents and decision.
Use Planning Application Search at any time to:
Once you have registered, you can also sign up for email alerts for specific applications or areas of interest.
You’ll receive a Decision Notice confirming approval and listing any conditions.
Please check these carefully - some conditions require you to submit extra details (known as “discharge of conditions”) before starting work.
Don’t worry - there are options available.
You can:
or
We recommend discussing the decision with your planning officer first.
Find out how to appeal a decision >>
Getting planning permission doesn’t mean you can start building right away. Most projects also need Building Regulations approval.
Read about Building Control and when you need approval >>
You should also:
