Submitting a planning application is about more than just ensuring compliance with Local and National Planning Policies. It’s crucial that your application is supported by sufficient information, allowing the Council to validate it and provide a strong case for approval.
Validation checklists – what to consider when preparing your planning application for submission
To have your application accepted and forwarded to a planning officer for review, local authorities require a range of statutory and local documents, as well as plans. The level of detail required depends on the type of application you are submitting. This collection of documents is referred to as a validation checklist, which is often publicly available on your Local Planning Authority’s website. However, it is not always straightforward to digest.
The list of required documents is constantly evolving, making the process of submitting a planning application increasingly complex and costly. Given the time and resources required, it’s essential to understand your planning requirements and potential risks from the outset. This will allow you to effectively manage your planning project and ensure a solid foundation from the very beginning.
For example, if you’re planning to demolish part of your home and rebuild to create more internal space, or convert an existing barn into additional living space, you may need a range of supporting documents. These could include (but are not limited to) ecological assessments (e.g. bat roost surveys), structural reports, architectural plans, arboricultural surveys (if trees are nearby), and drainage or surface water management plans.
Project managing your planning application – key considerations
Understanding the order of instructions, managing the input of your consultants, and assessing whether their contributions strengthen your proposal are vital. This process helps manage your planning risks, costs, and timelines. For instance, ecological reports are often seasonal and have a limited shelf-life. If such reports are required for your application, you may need to time your submission carefully to avoid delays or unnecessary costs.
Alongside selecting the right team for your project, it’s equally important that additional reports and plans meet the validation requirements and directly support your application. In some cases, reports may suggest the need for further information, such as additional surveys or strategy plans. While some documents are required upfront to allow the Council to make a decision, others may be submitted later as conditions of your planning permission, potentially saving you upfront costs while awaiting confirmation of your proposal’s acceptability.
How we can help your development project navigate the planning process
At Plainview Planning and McLoughlin Planning, we offer more than just advice on planning policy and requirements. We provide comprehensive support in understanding what additional information your application will require and the correct order of instructions for consultants. We also liaise with your project team to ensure the smooth collation of your planning application for a strong, well-supported submission.
If you’re considering a new planning project and need help understanding the level of input required or assessing potential risks, we can assist. Contact one of our experienced team members today for a review of your case.
About us
We are Plainview Planning, now part of McLoughlin Planning – a solutions orientated, experienced and knowledgeable team of planning consultants. If you need professional and informed planning support with your development project, then contact our team via enquiries@plainview.co.uk, or call us on 01242 501003, providing the site address and a brief overview of your project. We look forward to helping you.
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