Validation Guide: A guide to submitting Planning Applications (National and Local Requirements)

5.0 Document Descriptions and Requirements

5.1 Application Form

5.1.1 We use the national standard applications forms.Whenusing the Planning Portal to submit your application you can select the appropriate form and fill in online. If you wish to download the form you can select the appropriate form from the Planning Portal form chooser

5.1.2 All questions must be answered completely and correctly. The Applicant name must be included on the form if an agent is being used.

5.1.3 When completing the form please ensure your description is clear and accurate; and includes all the development that you are seeking permission for. This will avoid delays at the validation stage.

5.2 Application fee

5.2.1 The correct application fee must be submitted and paid with the application. Without the correct application fee the application cannot be validated. To find out the correct fee you can look at our fee schedule, or use the Planning Portal fee calculator. If you are still unsure of the correct fee you can submit a fee enquiry using our contact us form

5.3 Ownership Certificate

5.3.1 You must include the correct ownership certificate with your application. This must be signed and dated by the applicant/agent, confirming all the information is correct. It is important to include the correct ownership certificate, because if it is found out during the application that the incorrect certificate has been signed then the planning application cannot be progressed and will need to be withdrawn and resubmitted with the correct ownership certificate. So to avoid delays with your application please make sure you have included the correct one. The National Planning Practice Guidance provides advice on what an ownership certificate is and which one should be signed.

5.3.2 Failure to serve the correct certificate or notice will invalidate the application. It is an offence to complete a false or misleading certificate, either knowingly or recklessly, with a maximum fine of up to £5,000

5.3.3 Certificate A – this should be completed if the applicant is the only land owner and the site is not part of an agricultural holding. If any part of the development overhangs a boundary or includes an access from the highway then you should sign Certificate B.

5.3.4 Certificate B – this should be completed if there are other people with an interest in the land, and these people are known, or if the site is part of an agricultural holding. For instance use this certificate if, there is shared ownership of land, provision of dropped kerb, access across land not in the applicants ownership, or the development crosses over the boundary.

5.3.5 You must print and serve notice 1 on all those interested parties, and confirm who has been served notice and when.

5.3.6 Certificate C – this should be completed if you do not own all the land to which the application relates and do not know the names and details of all the owners and/or tenants. Notice 1 needs to be printed, completed and served on the individuals known. Notice 2 must be completed and published in the local newspaper to cover those owners where the details are unknown.

5.3.7 Certificate D – this should be completed if you do not own all the land to which the application relates and do not know the names and details of any of the owners and/or tenants. Notice 2 must be completed and published in the local newspaper.

5.4 Validation Checklist Form

5.4.1 The validation checklist form is a tick list. It should be completed and submitted as part of the application documentation. It provides a double-check that you have submitted all the necessary documents and drawings.

5.4.2 The checklist allows for you to comment and set out any exceptions/ why it is not considered appropriate to include certain requirements. These comments can then be assessed by the Customer and Operations Team during the validation of the application.