East Suffolk Council
How to submit a planning application
Apply for planning permission, listed building consent and/or advertisement consent
| Apply for planning permission online using the Planning Portal |
| Planning application process |
The most efficient way to submit a planning application is by using the online service from the Planning Portal, however, you can alternatively submit your application by post or email using downloadable forms. For the modification and discharge of planning obligations, please use our Modification and discharge of planning obligations application form. These forms can be submitted by email or post to our Planning team.
Find out how much a planning application will cost
You can calculate the planning application fee using the Planning Portal online fee calculator.
What information needs to be submitted
Planning application fees, forms and documentation requirements vary depending upon the type of application.
Every planning application usually needs the following plans (drawn to a recognised scale) as a minimum:
- An application form.
- A site location plan, with a red line around the boundaries of the application site, and any other land under the same ownership outlined in blue. This is usually drawn at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500, and need to contain sufficient features to enable identification of the site (e.g. two named roads, local landmarks etc). Details on how to obtain site Location plans are set out below.
- Existing and proposed block plans, showing the location of the proposed works in relation to the site boundaries and neighbouring properties.
- Other plans such as elevations and floor plans illustrating the existing building(s) and proposed changes and/or new buildings.
In addition to the above, other documents maybe required. Those required will be dependent upon the size, scale and type of the proposals, application type, and if they are within any designated areas.
On 19 October 2020 East Suffolk Council published its Local Validation List.
This document explains what information will normally be required to accompany an application, to enable it to be validated by the Local Planning Authority. It is recommended that you consult this list prior to submitting an application, in order to reduce potential delays in validating your application.
Many proposals are vulnerable to sources of contamination and will require the submission of information relating to Land Contamination Investigations of the application site. If contamination is not suspected and the development is only for residential extensions, outbuildings and up to 1-2 dwellings on existing residential land or a Greenfield site then a Land contamination questionnaire and an environmental search should be completed. Environmental searches may be obtained from various companies who keep large databases of environmental information which detail various previous land uses that may indicate the existence of potential contamination. Further information and guidance on the importance of understanding contamination is provided in the Contaminated Land and Development Guidance Note on our Contaminated land page.
If in response to a stage 1 application for Agricultural or Forestry Prior Approval, the Local Planning Authority gives notice that Prior Approval is required for the siting, design and external appearance of the development, then a Site Notice has to be displayed by the applicant for not less than 21 days in the period 28 days from the date of that notice, before progression to Stage 2.
Getting a site location plan
You can use the Planning Portal's 'Buy a Plan' service to ensure that you meet our requirements, whether you are a planning professional or first-time applicant.
Additional documents
If you wish to submit any additional information on any application please email our Planning team rather than contacting the individual officer, to ensure that your correspondence is received and attached to your file.
You can follow the progress of your application through Public Access, using your unique reference number.
After an application has been submitted
A planning application goes through a standard process of being registered, consulted on, considered and determined. Find out more about the planning application process.
Upon receipt of a planning application, we will check to make sure that all of the relevant application forms have been completed correctly and that all of the necessary plans, drawings and other supporting information has been submitted with the application.
Once all of the necessary information has been submitted, the application will be validated. An acknowledgement will then be sent to the applicant or agent and the application is uploaded to the Council’s website. You can monitor your application, including any comments received via the Public Access system.
Still unsure if you need planning permission?
It is your responsibility to find out if you need planning permission. If you are still unsure if planning permission is required, or if you would like feedback on your development proposals, we offer a pre-application planning advice service.