Planning

Consideration of a planning application can often be delayed until the appropriate drawn information is received. The lists below offer guidance on the extent and type of information that the council is looking for in a full application.

General

• All drawings accompanying the application must be dated and numbered and these numbers must be indicated on the application form.
• All revised drawings must indicate the full extent of the change and show a revision number or letter and the date of the revision.
• The scale (or scales) of the drawings must be shown. All drawings should be to a suitable metric scale.
• Wherever possible, drawings larger than A1 size should be avoided.
• In outline applications, if drawings are for illustrative purposes only, this should be clearly indicated.
• The drawings should give an accurate account of the proposals and indicate whether they are enlarged from an Ordnance Survey (OS) map or drawn from a survey.
• Where existing buildings are to be altered or extended, the new work must be clearly shown and the demolitions indicated. The use of colour is encouraged in distinguishing new work from existing. However, it would help if new work were shown on a separate plan.
• Outline planning applications are not generally appropriate for new building work in conservation areas or to listed buildings.
• Guidance for alterations to listed buildings is available on request from the council.
• Presentation is of importance and the use of colour generally to clarify drawings is suggested, in particular for larger or more complex schemes. Applicants are encouraged to submit a supporting presentation where this would be appropriate to explain any design philosophy behind their proposals.

Specialist matters

• Where necessary, to show joinery detail etc. (especially in the case of listed buildings) plans should be to a scale of 1:5, 1:10 or 1:20.
• Where it is known that the site has acknowledged archaeological importance, full details of work below ground (including services, foundations and their method of excavation) should be shown.

Location plans

A location plan must be provided for all applications. It should normally be based on an OS 1:1,250 scale map or if necessary, 1:2,500 scale within the rural areas. The site must be outlined in red and any land in the same ownership in blue. It would be helpful if any public rights of way could be shown coloured brown.

Site plans

• The orientation of the site should be clear.
• The boundaries of the site should be edged in red, dimensioned and described, e.g. 1,800 mm brick wall, 1,500 mm chain link fence.
• The scale must be suitable to show all the required detail of the scheme. This will usually be within the range of 1:500 to 1:100.
• All existing buildings, trees, paths and all other features within the site are to be described, whether retained or removed.
• All boundaries of the site must be dimensioned to existing or new buildings within the site or to those immediately adjoining.
• Where the proposed development is complex, or likely to affect an adjoining property, the position of buildings, trees and other features external to the site should be dimensioned.
• Survey information should show important landscape features, spot heights and where appropriate, contours. Present and proposed levels must be indicated if changes are to be made.
• Where existing site conditions are significantly revised, they should be shown on a separate drawing.
• If any tree within the site or overhanging from a neighbouring property is affected in any way, a tree survey must be provided indicating the position, crown spread and species.
• Access roads, existing vehicular access, vehicle turning areas, parking spaces and full visibility splays (which may affect adjoining land or properties) must be shown.

Floor plans

• Floor plans should be to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100.
• Each floor plan should establish the layout of any new or revised areas and show the relevant uses, e.g. bedroom, kitchen, lift.
• A plan to show revisions to an existing roof or to illustrate a complex roof will be required.
• In buildings to which the public has access, including all shops and other work places, facilities for disabled people should be shown and described in the drawing.

Elevations and sections

• Elevations should be to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and include details of the type and colour of external materials.
• Drawings showing elevations in the context of the street scene may be required to show the integration of the proposed design. This may also be achieved by three-dimensional drawings. These will be especially relevant in conservation areas and near listed buildings.
• Sections through the site and adjoining areas, with relevant elevations, will be necessary in some circumstances. This may be where a proposal is close to the boundaries of the site or there is a significant slope.

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