📍 Assess for:
Log in to link to a project
← 📦 Submission Intelligence
📝 Application Form Guide
Every question on the planning application form explained in plain English. Click each section to expand.
👤 1. Applicant Details
▼Applicant Name
Your full legal name — the person applying for permission. Can be an individual or company.
💡 Must match the name on the ownership certificate.
Applicant Address
Your current address — this is where correspondence will be sent unless you have an agent.
💡 Use the address where you actually receive post.
Agent Details (optional)
If you have a planning consultant or architect acting on your behalf, enter their details here. All correspondence will go to them instead of you.
💡 Using an agent is optional but recommended for complex applications.
📍 2. Site Details
▼Site Address
The FULL address of the site where the development will take place. Must include postcode. If the site has no postal address, describe the location (e.g. "Land adjacent to 12 Oak Lane").
💡 This must match the red line on your location plan exactly.
Easting / Northing
The grid reference coordinates of your site centre. You can find these on our Boundary Studio or from the OS maps.
💡 Our Boundary Studio shows coordinates automatically when you draw your red line.
Description of Proposal
A clear, concise description of what you want to do. This becomes the official title of your application and appears on all public records.
⚠️ Be precise — "Erection of single storey rear extension" is better than "Extension to house." A vague description can cause validation delays.
📜 3. Ownership Certificates
▼Certificate A
Tick this if you are the sole owner of ALL the land within the red line boundary. This is the most common certificate for householder applications.
💡 If you own the freehold and no one else has an interest in the land, use Certificate A.
Certificate B
Tick this if you know who owns the land but you are not the sole owner. You must serve notice on ALL other owners and complete the notification table.
⚠️ You MUST serve notice on all owners — failure to do so can invalidate your permission.
Certificate C
Tick this if you have been unable to identify all owners after reasonable enquiry. You must advertise in a local newspaper.
Certificate D
Tick this if you have been unable to identify ANY of the owners. Very rare.
Agricultural Holdings
Declare whether any of the land is part of an agricultural holding. If yes, you must notify the tenant.
💡 Most householder applications can tick "No" here.
🏗️ 4. Existing & Proposed Use
▼Existing Use
What the land/building is currently used for. Use the official Use Class (e.g. C3 Dwelling, E Commercial, Sui Generis).
💡 If the site is vacant, state the last known use.
Has the site been vacant?
If the building has been empty, state how long and what the last use was. This matters for CIL calculations — existing lawful floorspace can be deducted.
Proposed Use
What you want to use it for after the development. For extensions, this is usually the same as existing (C3 Dwelling).
📐 5. Dimensions
▼Site Area
Total area within the red line in hectares. 1 hectare = 10,000 sqm. A typical house plot is 0.02-0.05 hectares.
💡 Our Boundary Studio calculates this automatically when you draw the red line.
Existing Gross Floor Area
Total internal floor area of all existing buildings on the site in square metres (GIA). Measured to the internal face of external walls.
Proposed Gross Floor Area
Total internal floor area of all buildings AFTER the development. The difference between existing and proposed is the "net additional floorspace" used for CIL.
💡 Include ALL floors — ground, first, basement, mezzanine.
Number of Existing/Proposed Dwellings
How many separate homes exist now and how many there will be after. For extensions this is usually 1 → 1.
🚗 6. Access & Parking
▼New or Altered Vehicle Access
Will the development create a new entrance from the road or change an existing one? If yes, you may need highways consent for a dropped kerb.
⚠️ A new access onto a classified road usually requires a highways consultation.
Parking Spaces
Number of parking spaces before and after the development. Include garages (counted as 0.5 spaces by many LPAs).
💡 Check your LPA's parking standards — these vary significantly by area.
Cycle Parking
Secure cycle storage provision. Most LPAs require 1 space per bedroom for residential. New build requires compliance with Building Regs Part S.
🌳 7. Trees & Ecology
▼Trees on Site
Are there any trees on the site or on neighbouring land that could be affected? If yes, a tree survey (BS 5837) may be required.
Protected Trees (TPO)
Are any trees on or near the site protected by a Tree Preservation Order? Check with your LPA or on our constraint checker.
⚠️ Damaging a TPO tree without consent is a criminal offence with unlimited fines.
Biodiversity
Does the site have any ecological value? BNG (10% net gain) is mandatory for most applications since February 2024.
💡 Commission a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal early — bat surveys can only be done May-September.
💷 8. Fees
▼Application Fee
The fee depends on your application type and the scale of development. Householder applications are currently £548. Full applications for new dwellings start at £610 per dwelling.
💡 Use our Fee Calculator to get the exact amount. Pay online via the Planning Portal.
Exemptions
Some applications are fee-exempt: alterations for disabled access, first application after removal of a building by fire/storm, and certain Listed Building Consent applications.
🔗 Useful Links
About this tool: Application Form Guide
Question-by-question guide to the planning application form — what each field means and the answers that cause validation problems.
When to use it
Use while completing the application form to avoid the common answers that trigger invalidation.
Policy and guidance it draws on
DMPO 2015, national validation requirements
Part of Submission Intelligence
Use these tools when preparing your application for submission. The Validation Pre-Flight catches common mistakes before the LPA does. The statement builders help you create policy-backed documents that address officer concerns proactively.
Related tools
Validation Pre-FlightCondition PredictorStatement BuilderDesign & Access StatementDAS Context GeneratorPolicy Compliance MatrixPre-App TemplateCover Letter GeneratorGuidance to help you prepare — not formal planning advice. Check the current policy text and your council's local plan before relying on it.