Making a planning application

These pages aim to help you understand the process and hopefully ensure you are better informed to aid your application's submission and progress.  

What is development?

Development is defined as the “carrying out of building, engineering, mining, or other operations in, on, over, or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land”, The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Section 55 (1).

Do I need planning permission?

Whether you are planning home improvements or a large-scale residential or commercial project, knowing whether you need planning permission or building regulations approval is important. Planning permission is needed for most building work or changing the use of a building or piece of land. Applications may also be required for other projects, such as advertisements and tree works, so it's best to check. 

Many things fall within the definition of development and do not require a formal planning application submission. Current legislation, referred to as the GPDO, sets out the types of development permitted subject to certain limitations and conditions. It includes specific alterations and extensions to domestic dwellings.

It is important to ensure development complies with any limitations or conditions. Otherwise, your development may be considered unlawful.

Permitted development

Where permitted development rights are to be used, it is highly recommended that you seek confirmation that your development is permitted via submission of a Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Development. This written confirmation will be important if you ever wish to sell the property or land.

In a growing number of cases, permitted development rights require submitting an application to the local planning authority for prior approval for approval or consideration of specific details. You should follow the relevant submission requirements in the GPDO before applying for prior approval.

Other requirements under permitted development

To benefit from permitted development rights, including those where prior approval is required, a development must comply with the provisions in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and must also comply with Regulations 75 to 78 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

See making a Regulation 77 application for more information on this process.

Planning Portal

On the Planning Portal, you can use the common projects and interactive guides to understand permitted development limits or explore the in-depth guidance to know what to consider at each project stage.

Building regulations consent

You may also require building regulations approval for your proposal. Our building control team ensure that building work meets the minimum standards of the building regulations, including fire safety, structure and thermal insulation requirements. 

Lawful development certificate

If you consider your proposal permitted development and require written confirmation from the Council, you can apply for a lawful development certificate for the proposed development.

The application would need to be submitted with the planning application form and include a location plan outlining the site in red, the relevant fee, and the proposal plans. You can also obtain a lawful development certificate for an existing development.

Will I get planning permission?

Most planning applications are approved, but it depends on what you are applying for, where the site is, and what affects it. Planning officers have to consider a lot of information, constraints, and consultation responses to decide on an application. 

Sometimes, to prevent a refusal planning officers may seek slight changes to the application to make it more acceptable or compliant with current planning policy.

Can I get pre-application advice?

You can request advice through our pre-application service if you need guidance or are still deciding whether to apply. Pre-application advice will assure you that your application, when submitted, will contain all the information we need to validate your application quickly. The pre-application report will identify any site constraints or planning obligations you will need to take into account when applying. There is a charge for this service. 

The contents of pre-applications are currently made public via the public access system when completed, except those that are commercially sensitive.

Pre-applications are not subject to external consultation at this stage, and the details are not made public until after the case has been closed unless they are commercially sensitive.  

A pre-application is an option for those who want further advice on a proposal before it becomes a submitted application. These are often speculative, and some are commercially sensitive. 

They are not subject to consultation at this stage, and the details are not made public until after the case has been closed. 

Visit our pre-application advice services page for further details.

How much does is cost to make an application?

The charge depends on the type of application. View this guide to fees for planning applications in England. The different types of applications are listed below.

Types of planning applications

Our most popular applications are:

• full planning
• householder

Other application types include:

• outline
• reserved matters
• listed building consent
• conservation area consent 
• advertisement consent 
• certificates of lawfulness
• prior approval 
• applications to vary or discharge matters reserved by planning conditions
• tree works (tree preservation orders)

Some projects will require more than one of the above applications. For example, work affecting a listed building may need both planning permission and listed building consent. 

Visit consent types on the Planning Portal website for further details and to find out which application you need.

How to apply

There are two ways to make an application.

Option 1: Through the Planning Portal

You can make your application online through the Planning Portal, where you can create a site location plan, add attachments, calculate the fee and pay online, where required.  The portal is a popular way to make an application. These are sent to the Council daily.

The Planning Portal also offers advice on how to make a planning application. This interactive house is a helpful guide to help you decide what kind of application you need.

Start your application

It's important to note that the Planning Portal website and services are owned and operated as a private company. It is the simplest way to make an application, especially if you're applying for the first time. However, an additional fee is charged if you wish to make your application that way. The Council is not promoting this service as a preferred option when submitting your application. 

Option 2: Download the forms

Download application forms from the Planning Portal and email to planning@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Or post them to:

Planning Service
North Norfolk District Council
Holt Road
Cromer
NR27 9EN

Tips for making sure your application is submitted successfully

1. Make sure your description is accurate – view our hints and tips on writing planning descriptions.
2. It is essential to include all the documents and plans required. These requirements are called the validation list. 
3. Make sure you submit the correct payment for your application.  

Please help the Council to process your application as quickly as possible and to keep costs down by submitting your application online. 

Doing it online ensures that the information we need to deal with your application is all captured at the start of the process and reduces the possibility of the application being delayed because of information being missing or incomplete.

Include all of the appropriate supporting documentation and the correct application fee to ensure the processing of your application is completed on time.

Further advice and guidance

Choosing an architect, planner or building agent

Further information from the Planning Portal

• Do I need planning permission
• The decision making process
• What is planning permission