You can apply for planning permission online. There are many advantages to to doing this, including:
- no printing and postage costs
- creating a site location plan
- applying anytime
- adding any attachments to your submission
- calculating your fees for you
The government recently announced an increase in planning fees, which will take effect from Tuesday 1 April 2025.
More information about this is available in Forthcoming Fees for Planning Applications in England.
When applying online, you'll need to pay the planning application fee directly to the Planning Portal.
If you need to make a payment for a planning application submitted by post you will be emailed a payment link.
In view of the increase in planning fees, we will no longer match the Portal’s administration fee for applications submitted on paper or by email.
We don't accept payment by cheque.
Before you submit your application, you should look at some of the advice and guidance we provide, including the pre-application enquiry service where we seek to resolve key issues upfront in order to save you time and money. You may also wish to calculate your fees upfront.
Who can submit an application
You may need a professional agent to submit your application and represent you, unless your application proposal is very simple and you have access to the required technical drawings and documents.
We can’t recommend an agent, but websites of the main professional bodies provide lists of their members.
VAT is not payable when applying for planning permission.
National validation requirements
All planning applications must be accompanied by a set list of supporting information.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2015 (as amended) sets out the statutory national information requirements needed to support a planning application. It includes key information such as:
- an application form
- plans and drawings
- a completed ownership certificate and agricultural land declaration
- a Design and Access Statement and a Fire Statement
For guidance go to GOV.UK: Making an application.
Biodiversity net gain
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development that aims to leave habitats for wildlife in a measurably better state than they were beforehand.
The mandatory requirement for 10% (BNG) came into force on 12 February 2024. There is a temporary exemption for minor schemes until 2 April 2024 for small sites.
BNG introduced additional national information requirements, including:
Biodiversity Net Gain Statement with written confirmation that:
- mandatory biodiversity net gain does or does not apply
- whether and when any habitat degradation has taken place before or after the Biodiversity Metric calculations were carried out
The Statutory Biodiversity Metric with:
- baseline and draft post-development calculations fully completed (outline applications may provide indicative post-development calculations)
- date of Metric completion
- name of competent and/or Watercourse accredited person
A map showing on-site habitat (using UK Habitat Classification) and any irreplaceable habitat
Minimum information requirements
Your application won't be validated if the minimum information is not submitted. You can learn more about the minimum information requirements on GOV.UK: Biodiversity net gain.
In addition to the national information requirements, there are additional Local planning requirements.
A guide to the types of developments that are exempt from the mandatory BNG requirements is available on GOV.UK: Exempt developments.