Describing planning applications

Planning application descriptions should be accurate, clear and precise. They should identify the key parts of the proposal that require planning permission but not include irrelevant details or set out a justification for the proposal. The following description contains too much and irrelevant details:

• "We want to build an extension to our kitchen"

This should be changed to:

• "Single storey extension to rear"

If you wish to explain or justify the proposal in more detail this should be set out in a separate supporting letter or Planning Statement.

Where we consider that a description does not accurately or concisely describe the proposed development we will reserve the right to amend and clarify it prior to validating the application.

On that basis we have created the following good practice examples to assist you in describing your development proposal. 

1. Householder applications
2. Residential developments
3. Industrial, commercial or other premises
4. Advertisements
5. Listed building consent
6. Applications to amend an existing planning permission
7. Other

Householder applications

​​​​Extensions​

Include the key elements, scale and location of the proposal: ​​

• Two storey extension to rear and single storey extension to side
• First floor extension to rear
• Part single storey, part two storey extension to side​
• Dormer window extension to front/side/rear
• Hip to gable roof extension with dormer windows​ to front and rear
• Convert existing integral garage into habitable living space; single storey side extension forming double garage; new dropped kerb to front
• Single storey extension to side to form residential annexe​

Garages/outbuildings

State the scale, purpose and location of the building:

• Detached single/double garage to rear 
• Detached single storey residential annexe

​​Access

State the type of access and location:

• New vehicular/pedestrian access to Bradford Road

Gates, walls and fences

State the height, materials, type of boundary treatment and location:

• 1.5 metre high fence to rear boundary 

Residential developments

​​​​​​Full applications

State the type and number of units:

• Construction of one dwelling (and garage)
• Construction of 24 dwellings

Demolition works

Demolition works require planning permission so where the demolition of an existing building(s) is proposed this should be included in the description:

• Demolition of​ existing dwelling and construction of one dwelling

Outline applications

State the number of units proposed (where known), size of the site and the matters to be considered:

• ​Outline application for residential development of land (site area 1.0 ha) with all matters reserved
• Outline​ application for residential development of land for up to 24 dwellings with all matters reserved
• Outline application for residential development of land requesting consideration of (delete as applicable) layout, scale, appearance, landscape and access

Reserved matters

Specify the matters to be considered:

• Reserved matters application for 50 dwellings approved by outline permission (enter outline reference) requesting consideration of layout, scale, appearance, landscape and access (delete as applicable)​​​
• Reserved matters application requesting consideration of layout, scale, appearance and landscaping for 28 dwellings (pursuant to outline approval 15/01039/MAO)​​

Change of use applications

State both the existing and proposed use, including the relevant use class as set out within the Town & Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987. Details of these use classes can be found on the Planning Portal. Any other key external alterations and extensions should also be included:

• Change of use of warehouse (B8) to 24 apartments/flats/residential units (C3)
• Change of use of shop (A1) to three flats, single storey rear extension and external alterations
• Change of use of first floor (D1) to three flats (C3)
• Change of use of first to fo​urth floors from offices (B1a) to 19 residential units (C3)
• Change of use of shop (A1) to a mixed use of bar (A4) and street food takeaway (A5)

Industrial, commercial and other premises

New buildings

State the scale and purpose of the building:

• Single storey office block for light industry and office use
• Part single ​and part​ two storey warehouse building
• New general purpose agricultural building to include housing of livestock
• Community sports centre with flood lit artificial sports pitch, car park and formation of vehicular access

Extensions

State the nature, scale and location of the proposal in relation to the existing building(s):

• Single storey extension to industrial premises to form offices
• Second floor extension to office
• Single storey rear extension to shop

External alterations

State the nature and location of the alterations:

• ​Installation of w​indows to rear elevation and walling up of existing openings to side/front/rear elevation
• Installation of air conditioning unit to rear elevation
• ​Installation of shop front
• Replacement shop front and (material) (type) external security shutters
• Alterations to shopfront

Change of use applications

The description should make clear both existing and proposed use, including the relevant use class as set out within the Town & Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987. Details of these use classes can be found on the Planning Portal:

• Change of use from solicitors office (A2) to hot food takeaway (A5) including flue and new shop front
• Change of use of general industrial/storage and distribution units (Use Class B2/B8) to health and fitness centre (Use Class D2) with associated external alterations and reconfiguration of car parking​
• Change of use of agricultural land to form domestic garden area
• Change of use of vacant plot to car wash

New access

State the type and location of the access:

• New pedestrian access off Silver Street
• Formation of vehicle entrance and exit onto Tong Street

Advertisements

State the type of sign(s), the position they will be installed on the building, whether they will be illuminated, how they will be illuminated and the location:

• Three 48 sheet hoardings on Leeds Road frontage
• One externally illuminated projecting sign to front elevation
• Six internally illuminated fascia signs to the front and side elevations
• One non illuminated banner sign to front elevation
• Four freestanding flag advertisements on the forecourt

Listed building consent

When a proposal includes works to a listed building the alterations and/or extensions that require listed building consent should be referred to within the description. Any internal demolition works that require listed building consent should also be specified:

• Single storey extension to rear​
• External alterations including single storey rear extension and installation of rooflights to front and rear
• ​Internal alterations including installation of replacement staircase and removal of load bearing wall
• External and internal alterations including replacement windows, formation of door and window openings and changes to internal layout

Applications to amend an existing planning permission

Variation or remove of an existing planning condition(s)

Specify the number of the relevant condition(s) and briefly describe the nature of those conditions and, in the case of variations, the proposed change(s): 

• Removal of Condition 05 (restricted use) of planning permission 17/00531/FUL
• ​Variation of condition 03 (hours of opening) of planning permission 16/06770/FUL to allow opening until 10pm; Monday to Friday

Amendments to an existing planning permission

Specify the planning permission reference and the proposed changes:

• Amendment to design of house type on Plot 1 (revised details to ​planning permission 16/01370/FUL)
• Change of use, alteration and extension of agricultural building to form dwelling and formation of vehicular access (revised details to planning permission 16/00119/FUL)

Non material amendments

Specify the relevant planning permission and the nature of the amendment(s) proposed

• Non Material Amendment to planning permission 16/01234/FUL: to add a first floor obscure glazed window on side elevation and amended pitched roof design to single storey rear extension

Applications for the submission of details

Specify the original planning permission and relevant conditions

• Submission of details required by conditions 11 (materials), 13 (boundary treatment) and 15 (landscaping) of planning permission 16/00567/FUL

Other 

Where all or part of the proposal has been built this should be clearly referred to in the description as “retrospective”.