How to prepare a valid planning application

This is a plan showing the development in relation to the boundaries and on-site buildings.

This is needed for all applications.

This is a national requirement and is needed to record the area of your application.

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended)

Read about site plans on the Planning Portal (PDF, 360 KB)

Buy a planning map on the Planning Portal

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:500 or 1:200 and include a scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred, but larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• use an up-to-date base map
• show the direction of North

Site or block plans must also show (if relevant):

• buildings
• roads
• footpaths (including public rights of way)
• trees on or adjoining the site
• hard surfacing
• boundary treatment including walls or fencing

Best practice example:

• site or location plan - best practice example (PDF, 1.1 MB)

This is a plan showing the development in the context of the surrounding area.

It is needed for all applications.

This is a national requirement and is needed to assess your application in the context of the neighbouring area

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended)

For further information, see:

• Location plan - guidance
• Location plan - buy a planning map

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:1250 or 1:2500 and include a scale bar
  • A4 and A3 paper size are preferred but larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• use an up-to-date base map
• show roads or buildings on land adjoining the application site (preferably labelling at least two roads)
• outline the application site clearly in red, including land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around buildings
• set out any additional land under the ownership of the applicant in blue if it immediately adjoins the proposed area

Please do not:

• submit more than one red line boundary per submission
• submit plans drawn on Land Registry plans (due to copyright issues)

Best practice example:

• site or location plan - best practice example (PDF, 1.1 MB)

These are drawings that show what your development looks like from the outside (typically all 4 sides of a building).

It is needed for all applications.

This is a local requirement and is needed to assess what the finished development will look like from the outside.

Policy: NPPF paragraphs 124 to 132

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended) on Legislation.gov.uk

This must be scaled correctly.

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:100 or 1:50 and include a scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• show all sides of the proposal
• show the proposed works in relation to the existing by using colour or hatching
• include materials and style (where possible)
• show bin and cycle storage (for flats and non-residential, such as offices)
• show relative heights or levels in street context (where relevant, such as hilly areas)

Best practice example:

• elevations - best practice examples (PDF, 200 KB)

These are diagrams showing the floor layout of your development on each level (typically shown top-down).

These are needed for all applications.

This is a national and local requirement and is needed to assess what the finished floor plan will look like.

Policy: NPPF paragraphs 124 to 132

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended) on Legislation.gov.uk

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:100 or 1:50 and include scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• indicate where existing buildings and walls are to be demolished (with a dotted line)
• show the proposed buildings in context with adjacent buildings
• show bin and cycle storage (for flats and non-residential, such as offices)
• show measured volume of gross external area (for extended or replaced dwellings or outbuildings in the green belt)

For Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern and South Bucks Local Areas

1. Go to the Buckinghamshire County Council Minerals and Waste Map Viewer
2. Open the layer control (3 stacked diamonds in top right corner)
3. Select only the ‘Green Belt (Bucks)’ layer
4. Search your property or site address
5. Check the map window to see if your proposal falls within the Green Belt

For Wycombe Local Area

1. Go to Wycombe MyMaps
2. Open the “Planning Policy” map category using “+”
3. Select the “Green Belt” layer (by ticking the box)
4. Click on your property in the map screen to see if it is within the Green Belt

If you are having any difficulty accessing maps, email [email protected]

Best practice example:

• floor plans - best practice examples (PDF, 180 KB)

This is a diagram setting out the shape or design of a roof (shown from an aerial view).

It is needed for proposals that involve alterations or new works to a roof.

This is a local requirement and is needed to assess what the finished roof will look like.

Policy: NPPF paragraphs 124 to 132

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended) on Legislation.gov.uk

This must be scaled correctly.

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:100 or 1:50 - with scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• include any relevant details (such as roofing materials, location of materials, plant, flues and chimneys)

These are diagrams showing cross-sections of a development and surrounding land.

There may be other proposals where you will need to submit this (see below).

This is needed for all proposals that involve alterations to ground levels, including raised or sunken patios, decking, steps, and so on.

This is a local requirement and is needed to assess the impact of your proposals on the ground levels.

Policy: NPPF paragraphs 124 to 132

Legislation: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) 2015 (as amended) on Legislation.gov.uk.

For more information on the current OS datum points used, see OS-Net.

Also see information on other benchmark figures used on Ordnancesurvey.co.uk.

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:100 or 1:50 and include a scale bar (1:200 will be acceptable for larger site areas). A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• show levels in the context of adjoining areas
• reference an identified off-site OS datum point
• show how encroachment onto adjoining land is to be avoided (if your proposal includes eaves, foundations, and retaining structures)
• show the floor to ceiling level within a building
• show (if any) voids within the building

There may be other instances where your application should be supported by a site sections or levels plan, for example if your development is in a hilly are such as High Wycombe, or your site has steep topography. To confirm whether this is required use the planning advice service.

These are diagrams that show proposed adverts, and details any associated illumination and fittings.

This is needed for all advertisement consent.

This is a national requirement and is needed to assess the advert proposal on existing buildings and the local area.

Policy: NPPF paragraphs 124 to 132

Legislation: Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 on legislation.gov.uk.

For further local guidance, see Advertisements Advice Note (PDF, 790 KB).

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:100 or 1:50 and include a scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• show the advertisement size, the siting, materials and colours to be used and how they will be fixed
• show the height above the ground and extent of projection
• detail the method and colour(s) of the illumination or luminance
• show a cross-section through all signs including through any supporting structures or walls
• make sure plans reflect the answers to the dimensions set out in the application form

These are drawings showing the internal sections (side view) of the designated heritage asset in relation to the works.

They are needed for all applications for listed building consent involving:

• the change or alteration of floor levels
• conversion of loft or basement into habitable room

There may be other proposals where you will need to submit this (see below).

This is a local requirement and is needed to the impact of your proposal on the heritage asset.

Policy: NPPF paragraph 189

For further guidance, see:

• Historic England's guidance on Statements of Heritage Significance
• Historic England's guidance on decision-taking in the Historic Environment

Please do:

• scale plans at 1:50 or 1:20 and include a scale bar. A4 and A3 paper size are preferred; however larger plans are acceptable where this is inappropriate, ideally labelled with the paper size
• make sure each plan has a unique reference number
• show the proposed works in relation to the existing structure
• include a schedule of works and method statement

Heritage assets include:

• listed buildings
• scheduled ancient monuments
• registered historic parks and gardens
• registered battlefields
• conservation areas
• areas of archaeological importance or archaeological notification areas
• protected wreck sites
• world heritage sites
• non-designated heritage assets (including locally listed buildings and significant buildings identified in a conservation area appraisal)

1. Go to Buckinghamshire's historic maps
2. Open the layer control (3 layered diamonds in top right-hand corner)
3. Select the ‘Conservation Area’ and ‘Archaeological Notification Area’ layers
4. Search your property or site address
5. Check the map to see if your site contains any of these assets

1. Go to Historic England’s MapViewer
2. Search your property or site address
3. Check your property or site in the map screen to see if it contains a listed building, scheduled ancient monument, registered historic parks and garden, world heritage site, protected wreck site, or battlefield

If you are having any difficulty accessing maps, email [email protected]

Check the relevant local list or conservation area appraisal for information on locally listed buildings.

• Aylesbury Vale note
• Wycombe local list (PDF, 80 KB)

There may be other instances where your application should be supported by internal section plans, for example:

• the conversion or alteration of designated heritage assets
• proposals involving upgrade of a building for building regulations purposes
• where proposed works affect internal characteristics of the structure. 

Please use the planning advice service to confirm whether this is required.