Planning validation checklists - Outline application for planning permission

View outline application information on Planning Portal's website

All applications to be submitted via the Planning Portal.

Find out how to apply

Please refer to this information to ensure that your application is submitted correctly on receipt to avoid any delays.

Detailed guidance to help you submit the correct requirements

For an outline planning application, you'll need:

• correct application form including signed & dated ownership certificates & agricultural land classification
  • all sections of the form must be answered
  • the declaration must be signed and dated
• correct fee submitted with your application - refer to the fee schedule to determine correct fee
• ensure all plans, and documents are clearly labelled using the Planning Portal document type list
• site location plan including means of access to a highway – required for all applications.
• proposed block plan, required for all applications, except change of use applications.
• elevation plans – existing and proposed
• floor plans – existing and proposed
• design and access statement - required for
  • listed building consent applications
  • major applications, both full and outline
  • applications within a conservation area, where the new floor space would exceed 100m²
  • applications for one or more new residential dwelling within a conservation area

Fire Statement

Guidance: Government guidance in force from 1 August 2021 – Building safety: planning gateway one

When is this required:

An application for planning permission for development which involves:

• the provision of one or more relevant buildings, or
• development of an existing relevant building
• or development within the curtilage of a relevant building

Applications for permission for a material change of use of land or buildings will require a fire statement unless the application is for:

• a material change in use of a relevant building and the material change of use would result in the building no longer being a relevant building
• a material change in use of land or buildings within the curtilage of a relevant building

Relevant buildings are:

• relevant buildings contain two or more dwellings or educational accommodation and meet the height condition (18m or more in height, or 7 or more storeys whichever is reached first).
• “dwellings” includes flats and “educational accommodation” means residential accommodation for the use of students at boarding school or in later stages of education (see the definition in article 9A(8)) must be accompanied by a fire statement
• fire statements must be submitted on a form published by the Secretary of State (or a form to similar effect) (see Annex C) and contain the particulars specified or referred to in the form, which includes information about (not exhaustive list):
  • the principles, concepts and approach relating to fire safety that have been applied to each building in the development
  • the site layout
  • emergency vehicle access and water supplies for firefighting purposes what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to the fire safety of the development; and what account has been taken of this
  • how any policies relating to fire safety in relevant local development documents have been taken into account
• the publication of a standard form for this purpose is intended to ensure consistency in the way in which information is provided, as well as ensuring information contained within a fire statement is focused on fire safety matters as they relate to land use planning

For applications subject to Environmental Impact Assessment in circumstances set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

• Environmental statement and non-technical summary where applications are subject to Environmental Impact Assessment in circumstances set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017
• a screening opinion to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required can be requested before submitting a planning application (view guidance on GOV.UK)

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements

Guidance:  Environment Act 2021   BNG commencement regulations,

Biodiversity Net Gain requirements from 12 February 2024

Biodiversity net gain has been introduced in the Environment Act 2021 and makes biodiversity gain a condition of planning permission. This new law will require planning applicants to produce a new legal document called a 'Biodiversity Gain Plan' and to provide detailed metric calculations on how much biodiversity is on the site before development and how much there will be after development.

• Applies to all Full planning applications for major development - if 10 or more dwellings, or site area greater that 0.5 hectares
• Planning portal FULL application form includes BNG section.

BNG will only apply where the planning application was made on or after 12 February 2024.

Our planning officer may require additional information to determine your application, to avoid any delays please refer to our additional requirements list and provide the necessary plans/documents for your application.