Removal or Variation of a Condition

This is always required, except where the application:

• is for alterations, extensions and so on, to a dwelling house for the benefit of a registered disabled person (please provide evidence from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that the applicant is registered as being disabled).

Fees can be found on the Planning Portal - a guide to the fees for planning applications in England

Further guidance can be found on National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) - Fees for planning applications

A location plan is always required and must be an up-to-date Ordnance Survey based location plan at an appropriate scale, usually 1:1250 or 1:2500. In the case of large sites other scales may be appropriate.

The plan must show:

• at least two named roads and all surrounding buildings or land (unless this would require a plan greater than a scale of 1:2500)
• the application site (the whole planning unit)
• a north point
• the scale clearly identified

The plan used should:

• not be a Land Registry document
• show OS Crown copyright as an acknowledgement
• not to be copied from existing OS mapping, if using hand drawn maps such as standard streets
• show the correct licence number if you wish to print or copy maps for applications

The application site boundary must 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 the building.

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

Site plans may be created through a number of online retailers. You can find guidance on the Planning Portal - Maps plans and planning applications: what to submit

The relevant certificate must be completed, signed and dated. Only one certificate should be completed.

Certificate A should only be completed if the applicant is the sole owner (defined as a person with a freehold interest or leasehold interest with at least seven years left to run) of the land to which the application relates.

Certificate B should be completed if the applicant is not the sole owner but knows the names and addresses of all the other owners (this certificate should also be signed in the event of shared accesses).

Certificate C should be completed if the applicant does not own all of the land to which the application relates and does not know the name and address of all the owners. The relevant notice to owners must be completed and sent to all known owners and published in a local newspaper.

Certificate D should be completed if the applicant does not own all of the land to which the application relates and does not know the names and addresses of any of the owners.

• Householder notice (for householder applications only)
• The notice to be served on owners
• The notice to be published in the papers

A copy of the notice should be submitted to the local authority.

All planning applications must include the appropriate agricultural holdings certificate in order to be considered by the local authority. Please note that, as of the 6 June 2013, the agricultural holdings certificate now forms part of the ownership certificates.

If the land to which the application relates forms an agricultural holding or part of an agricultural holding as defined by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, and comprises land subject to an agricultural tenancy, all agricultural tenants must be notified prior to the submission of an application.

You must either confirm that none of the land to which the application relates is, or is part of, an agricultural holding, or otherwise give notice to all tenants on the agricultural holding.

If you are the sole tenant of the agricultural holding, insert 'sole tenant - not applicable' in the table under Certificate B.

• Householder notice (for householder developments only)
• The notice to be served on the owners
• The notice to be published in the paper

A copy of the notice should be submitted to the local authority.

Applications must be accompanied by plans and drawings or information necessary to describe the subject of the application including:

• existing and proposed block plans of the site (for example at a scale of 1:100 or 1:200) showing any site boundaries and neighbouring properties
• existing and proposed elevations (for example at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100). Drawings must show complete elevations, partial drawings are not acceptable
• existing and proposed floor plans (for example at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100). Drawings must show complete floor plans, partial drawings are not acceptable
• existing and proposed site sections and finished floor and site levels (for example at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)
• existing and proposed roof plans (for example at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100) - required only for complex roof structures

Always required for major development (that is development of 10 or more dwelllings (or 0.5 hectares for residential development where the number of dwellings is unknown) for the creation of more than a 1000 square metres of floor space and where the site is greater than 1 hectare), and alterations to a listed building.

If the site is within a conservation area a design and access statement will also be required for proposals involving the creation of one or more dwellings or a building or buildings where the floor area created by the development is 100 square metres or more measured externally, including householder developments if applicable.

A design and access statement should:

• explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development
• demonstrate the steps that have been taken to appraise the context of the development and how the design of the development takes that context into account in relation to the proposal
• explain the policy adopted as to access and how policies relating to access in relevant development plan documents (DPDs) have been taken into account
• state what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the development and what account has been taken of the outcome of any such consultation; and
• explain how specific issues which might affect access to the development have been addressed.

Further guidance:

• CABE guidance - Design Council - Design and access statements: How to write, read and use them
• National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) - National information requirements

A Planning Obligation (Section 106 Agreement) is a separate legal agreement signed by the planning authority and the landowners (that is, persons with a legal interest in the land, which may also include the developer), prior to the grant of a planning permission. The agreement will include commitments given by the landowner towards the provision of various community benefits considered necessary to make the proposals acceptable.

A schedule of issues (such as affordable housing provisions or contributions to schools) to be addressed (known as the Draft head(s) of terms) during the planning application process and should be submitted with any application where an obligation is required. This may be required for applications involving the creation of at least one dwelling that is not a replacement, unless otherwise advised by the local planning authority.

More information:

• National Planning Practice Guidance - Planning obligations guidance
• S106 Developers guide to infrastructure contributions in Suffolk

This is required for all new development which may involve a noise generating activity to surrounding areas, particularly where proposed close to existing sites that may be particularly harmed by such development (such as air bases, industrial estates, trunk roads) and for any development for sensitive use (such as new dwellings) situated close to an existing noise generating activity.

You are advised to contact the Public Health and Housing Team to discuss the scope of any noise report submitted.

More information:

• National Planning Policy Guidance - noise guidance
• Noise Policy Statement for England
• Noise

This is required for all applications where the context and justification for a proposed development needs to be demonstrated, and in particular all applications for major development, change of use and developments that do not accord with the development plan.

A planning statement should:

• detail how the proposal has taken account of national and local planning policy
• identify the context for the development and why the site has been chosen
• detail the intensity and type of use and who the users would be
• detail any consultation that has taken place with the local authority, statutory consultees or wider public and the feedback from that consultation (where this has not been incorporated as a separate statement of community involvement)

It may also include details of consultations with the local planning authority, the wider community and the statutory consultees that have been undertaken prior to submission of an application (a statement of community involvement may be incorporated into the planning statement where appropriate).

Where proposals effect or create sports facilities and/or playing fields, or generate a substantial need for them, a planning statement should also include:

• reasoned justification as to why development affecting such facilities should be allowed
• details of the area of sports facilities to be lost and any replacement
• information on any assessment considered to support the view that the open space, sport and recreation facilities are surplus to requirements
• details of quality, accessibility, management and maintenance of proposed facilities and of existing facilities where there is a proposed loss
• details of existing and proposed changing/toilet facilities
• technical details including surfacing, fencing and floodlighting
• details of proposed sports to be played, including the level to be played at.

More information:

• Forest Heath Local Plan
• St Edmundsbury Local Plan