Contact:
  • Planning Services
  • Address:
    Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath BA1 2DP
  • E-mail:
    development_control@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    01225 394041
  • Fax:
    01225 394199
  • Minicom:
    01225 477535
  • Page Updated:
    27/01/2010
  • Author:
    John Theobald
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Standard details required for all types of applications

Application Form and Ownership Certificate

  • Full Applicant name and address, including post code and contact details.
  • Full Agent name and address (if applicable), including post code and contact details.
  • Description of proposal - describe the proposal accurately and concisely, including for example, details such as number of storeys proposed, position of extensions, numbers of new buildings, details of any change of uses proposed, any details of internal or external works to listed buildings (including degree of any demolition proposed).
  • Site address details – full postal address of the site, including post code. The application site should be edged clearly with a red line on the accompanying up-to-date location plan.
  • Pre-application advice – please indicate if you have received pre-application advice from the planning service, for example name of officer, date and any reference of any correspondence or discussion.
  • Certificate of Ownership - complete the appropriate ownership certificate, which now forms part of the application form, as appropriate. For example, Certificate A if applicant is sole owner of the land, Certificate B if applicant not sole owner or any part of development is outside his/her ownership (and serve notice on each of the owners), Certificate C if applicant does not know the names of all the owners, or Certificate D if applicant cannot trace any of the owners. A notice to owners of the application site must be completed and served in accordance with Article 6 of the GDPO. The Ownership Certificate Notices 1 and 2 (if applicable) can be accessed on the Planning Portal.  An 'owner' is anyone with a freehold interest, or leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than 7 years.
  • Agricultural Holdings Certificate - this certificate is required whether or not the application site includes an agricultural holding and now forms part of the application form. All agricultural tenants must be notified prior to the submission of the application. This certificate is not required if the applicant is making an application for reserved matters, renewal of temporary planning
    permission, discharge or variation of conditions, tree preservation orders,
    or express consent to display an advertisement.
  • Information requirements - In order to help the council to assess planning applications effectively and expeditiously, it is important that applicants answer all the relevant questions on the form and provide all the accompanying information requested in the Validation Checklists (see below).

  • NOTE: Information provided on the application form and accompanying drawings and documents will be made available on the internet.

Drawings and supporting documentation 

  • Read the Validation Checklists – please consult the appropriate 'Checklist' to ensure that all the relevant plans and documents are submitted with the application. These can be found on the Downloadable Forms and Checklists web page. It is important to note that the Validation Checklists list the documents required to accompany planning applications before they are validated. Failure to complete the form correctly or to supply sufficiently detailed drawings or other relevant supporting information will result in the application being invalid and thus not being determined.  Background information regarding the adoption of the Checklists (Local Level Requirements) can be found here. 
  • 4 sets of documents (original plus 3 copies) to be supplied unless the application is submitted electronically. 
  • All submitted plans and elevations must be to a metric scale, complete with scale bar and one key dimension. Plans that include the words “Do Not Scale” will not be registered.
  • Preferable drawing sizes are A3 or A4 with just one scale per page.

The site location plan

All applications must include copies of a location plan based on an up-to-date map. This should be at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500. The GDPO 1995 requires three copies plus the original (unless submitted electronically). In exceptional circumstances plans of other scales may also be required. Plans should wherever possible show at least two named roads and surrounding buildings. The properties shown should be numbered or named to ensure that the exact location of the application site is clear.

The application site should be edged clearly with a red line. It should include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development – for example, land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around buildings.

A blue line should be drawn around any other land owned by the applicant, close to or adjoining the application site.

Site and other plans

Copies of the site plan should be submitted. The legislation requires three copies plus the original (unless submitted electronically). The site plan should be drawn at a scale of 1:500 or 1:200 and should accurately show:

a) the direction of North;

b) the proposed development in relation to the site boundaries and other existing buildings on the site, with written dimensions including those to the boundaries;

c) all the buildings, roads and footpaths on land adjoining the site including access arrangements;

d) all public rights of way (footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic) crossing or adjoining the site;

e) the position of all trees on the site, and those on adjacent land that could influence or be affected by the development;

f) the extent and type of any hard surfacing; and

g) boundary treatment including walls or fencing where this is proposed.

In addition other plans should be submitted (dependent on the type of application – refer to the relevant validation checklist for specific requirements) and may include:

Block plan of the site (e.g. at a scale of 1:100 or 1:200) showing any site boundaries. (1:1250 or 1:2500 for large schemes)

Copies of plans should show: any site boundaries; the type and height of boundary treatment (e.g. walls, fences etc); the position of any building or structure on the other side of such boundaries to demonstrate the wider context.

Existing and proposed elevations (e.g. at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)

These should be drawn to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and show clearly the proposed works in relation to what is already there. All sides of the proposal must be shown and these should indicate, where possible, the proposed building materials and the style, materials and finish of windows and doors. Blank elevations must also be included; if only to show that this is in fact the case.

Where a proposed elevation adjoins another building or is in close proximity, the drawings should clearly show the relationship between the buildings, and detail the positions of the openings on each property.

Existing and proposed floor plans (e.g. at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)

These should be drawn to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and should explain the proposal in detail. Where existing buildings or walls are to be demolished these should be clearly shown. The drawings submitted should show details of the existing building(s) as well as those for the proposed development. New buildings should also be shown in context with adjacent buildings (including property numbers where applicable).

Existing and proposed site sections and finished floor and site levels (e.g. at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)

Such plans drawn at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 should show a cross section(s) through the proposed building(s). In all cases where a proposal involves a change in ground levels, illustrative drawings should be submitted to show both existing and finished levels to include details of foundations and eaves and how encroachment onto adjoining land is to be avoided.

Full information should also be submitted to demonstrate how proposed buildings relate to existing site levels and neighbouring development. Such plans should show existing site levels and finished floor levels (with levels related to a fixed datum point off site) and also show the proposals in relation to adjoining buildings. This will be required for all applications involving new buildings.

In the case of householder development, the levels may be evident from floor plans and elevations, but particularly in the case of sloping sites it will be necessary to show how proposals relate to existing ground levels or where ground levels outside the extension would be modified. Levels should also be taken into account in the formulation of design and access statements.

Roof plans (e.g. at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)

A roof plan is used to show the shape of the roof and is typically drawn at a scale smaller than the scale used for the floor plans. Details such as the roofing material and their location are typically specified on the roof plan.

Design and Access Statements

A Design and Access Statement will be required for most applications.

Tree Survey

There may be requirements for a Tree Survey in relation to development.

Online applications

To ensure the smooth processing of your online application:

  • Attach all drawings as PDF (Portable Document Format) files. 
  • Photographs can be JPEG file format.
  • No individual file should be larger than 5Mb.
  • File names should reflect the content. 
  • Ensure that all drawings include the print (paper) size; the relevant scale at that print size (e.g. 1:100 etc); a scale bar showing the length of 1 and 10 metres and key dimensions.
  • Preferable drawing sizes are A3 or A4.
  • Drawings should be correctly oriented on page.
  • Adhere to the Validation Checklists. 
  • For major applications submitted online, complete the form online and post/deliver a minimum of 4 sets of all the application documentation to Planning Services. In addition, copies of the application documentation should be supplied on CD disc to enable electronic processing. No individual file should be larger than 5Mb.

Fee 

  • Most applications require a fee. Please consult the fee sheet to ascertain the correct payment for the proposal.
  • Payment can be made either online through the secure Planning Portal website as you submit your application electronically, or by cheque (made payable to Bath & N E Somerset Council).