Obtaining Planning Permission

Obtaining planning permission for a project can be a lengthy and costly process. For this reason, homeowners looking to improve their properties want to be sure their plans will have a good chance of being approved before they submit them. Local authorities commonly provide a pre-planning advice service – a usually informal process where a planning officer will look at the proposed development plans and provide their opinion and advice. This allows applicants to make amendments to their plans before making their submission in order to increase their chances of success.

Rejected Applications

The reason for submitting a planning application is so that the local authority can ensure there will be no negative impact on the surrounding area. Neighbours are given the chance to comment on issues that may affect them, such as privacy, noise or other types of disturbance. Planning officers will also need the relevant research to be completed to consider the design, health and safety and any environmental impact the development might have. While the pre-planning process helps filter out most non-starters before they’re submitted, they don’t prevent one of the most common reasons for planning applications being rejected: an inadequate planning map. Sometimes an application can be rejected for something as simple as the map not being to the right scale.

Which Is the Right Map?

The type of maps required depend on the type of project, its size and where it will be situated. In general, planning applications require a Site Location Plan, which shows the proposed development in the context of its surrounding area, and then a Block Plan, which is a more detailed plan of the build itself. Plans of the existing structures and area are required as well for comparison, with the Block Plan detailing all features, both man-made and natural, such as fences, sheds and trees. Plans need to identify boundaries in the correct colours and points of access, roads and footpaths. The required scale of each plan will also vary, depending on whether the project is being built in a rural or urban area.

Providing maps from a certified source is important. Breach of copyright is enough to have a proposal rejected, so all maps need to be originals, bearing evidence of the acknowledgement of Crown copyright. Photocopies and digital downloads are not acceptable.

Even these general rules aren’t exhaustive, which is why turning to a professional could save on time and fees in the long run. Using planning permission maps from Promap and similar specialist map providers will help you avoid the numerous hold-ups that can be associated with planning applications.

Bringing on board a specialist with the relevant expertise means that not only will you have a good set of original documents, but they’ll have been created from the correct sources, too.

In this first phase of what is often a stressful period of home improvement, it’s worth using a professional map provider just for the peace of mind. Not only that, but a planning application that is put together with the benefit of experience is more likely to be approved quickly.

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