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Most planning approvals contain some planning conditions. Conditions are used to ensure that development that may not be considered acceptable, can be approved subject to certain criteria. These criteria are detailed in conditions. Some conditions require you to submit details about particular aspects of the development to the local planning authority and others restrict certain things you can do as part of the development. The approval of details reserved by conditions is also known as 'discharging conditions'.

A typical condition requiring the submission of further details may read

'Details of the glazing to be used on the ground floor rear window should be submitted to and approved in writing prior to the commencement of the development'.

A typical condition restricting things you can do as part of the development may read

'The roof of the rear extension hereby approved shall not be used at any time as a roof terrace without the prior approval of xyz'.

Any condition that requires the submission of details must be 'discharged' in accordance with the wording of the condition. In most cases this is prior to the commencement of the entire development. Occasionally, some conditions can be discharged prior to the relevant part of the development taking place. Please consult your decision notice for the exact wording of your conditions.

In order to discharge a planning condition, you must submit the details, along with a completed application form and the appropriate fee to the planning department. All discharge of conditions incur a fee with the exception of conditions imposed on listed building consents and conservation area consent applications. It may take up to 8 weeks to receive a decision on a discharge of condition application.

This form is generally used to find out, at an early stage, whether or not a proposal is likely to be approved by the planning authority, before any substantial costs are incurred.

This type of planning application allows fewer details about the proposal to be submitted. These details may be agreed following a “reserved matters” application at a later stage.
Reserved matters can include:

• appearance - aspects of a building or place which affect the way it looks, including the exterior of the development

• means of access - covers accessibility for all routes to and within the site, as well as the way they link up to other roads and pathways outside the site

• landscaping - the improvement or protection of the amenities of the site and the area and the surrounding area, this could include planting trees or hedges as a screen

• layout - includes buildings, routes and open spaces within the development and the way they are laid out in relations to buildings and spaces outside the development

• scale - includes information on the size of the development, including the height, width and length of each proposed building

While some applications are straightforward and a decision can be made by the planning authority without detailed information, other proposals may need more information to be provided.

Please complete this form in full and return to us so we can determine whether planning permission is required for your proposal. Normally we will provide you with a written response within 10 working days.

Please complete this form in full and return to us so we can determine whether planning permission is required for your proposal. Normally we will provide you with a written response within 10 working days.