How to prepare a valid planning application

Submitting a valid application is straightfoward if you follow the advice below. It explains how to ensure your application and supporting documents meet all requirements.

What do I need to submit with my application?
How do I prepare these documents?
Need help making a valid application?

What do I need to submit with my application?

For an application to be valid and meet our best practice guidelines, you must submit all of the documents listed below.

 What to submit with your application
Document Requirements Link to guidance
Application form

Fully completed, signed, and dated. Use Planning Portal or download a copy.

See below
Site/block plan Scaled at 1:500 or 1:200, with scale bar. See below
Location plan Scaled at 1:1250 or 1:2500, with a red line boundary. Note: Ordnance Survey copyright law prevents us from accepting Land Registry plans. See below
Ownership certificate  Included in application form, but check this is correct. See below
Fee See planning and building control fees for specific fees.    
Existing and proposed elevations Scaled at 1:100 or 1:50, with scale bar See below
Existing and proposed floor plans Scaled at 1:100 or 1:50, with scale bar See below
Existing and proposed roof plans Scaled at 1:100 or 1:50, with scale bar See below
Ecology checklist  Fully completed using the checklist (right), with an ecological survey if required. See below
Ecology survey Only needed when the ecology checklist (see above) indicates a survey is required. See below
CIL liability Your proposal may be subject to charges under CIL. See Community Infrastructure Levy for more information.   See below
Site sections / levels*

Only needed when the works include alterations to ground levels,  include raised/sunken patios, decking, steps, etc. Must be scaled at 1:100 or 1:50, with scale bar

See below
Flood risk assessment* Only needed when the proposal is in flood zone areas 2 or 3 or has over 1 hectare in flood zone. See below
Design and access statement* Only needed when the proposal falls within a conservation area. See below

 

*Some documents are only required if your proposal falls in a particular designation or constrained area. To check if your proposal falls within one of these areas, please see the following resources:

  • MyMaps - part of MyWycombe, shows GIS layers for adopted planning policy and planning constraints

Please note: We are currently updating our GIS layers, in addition to the layers on MyMaps we advise that you also look at the following:

A full list of documents on our local validation list can be found in the applicant's guide to submitting a valid planning application [PDF | 94KB].

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Other documents that may be required for validation

Local Validation List
 DocumentWhat is it?When is it required?Guidance
Affordable Housing Statement Sets out information on: the type, size, and number of affordable housing units; the name of the registered social landlord; whether any public sector funding has been applied for or agreed. Whenever proposal exceeds threshold as set out in the Local Plan.  
Agricultural Statement Details the extent of the agricultural building and the nature of agricultural activity. Should include a detailed agricultural justification. When a proposal involves an agricultural holding or agricultural notification application.  
Air Quality Assessment Indicates the change in existing air quality resulting from the proposed development, and also outlined appropriate mitigation measures. When development are likely to affect local air quality and / or a development is located in an Air Quality Management Area.
  
Bin & Cycle storage Details of bin and cycle storage to demonstrate how these will be stored within the development. For development proposals including flats and terraced houses.  
 Building for Life Assessment  A set of criteria carried out in the pre-application stage to seek to raise the quality of the proposal. When requested by planning officers in consultation with the applicant.  
Community Needs Assessment Sets out: details of community use(s) that may be lost by the proposed development; statistical evidence for different community needs; and evidence of perceived community needs (in consultation with the local community). Must set out methodology. When a development will result in the loss of a community facility, or of a scale which could create the need for a community facility.  
 Conservation Area Statement A written statement that includes: a structural survey; an analysis of the character and appearance of the building / structure; the principles and justification for the proposed demolition and its impact on the special character of the area. For development within or adjacent to a conservation area.  
 Cross-section Plan of Roof Accommodation      
 Daylight/Sunlight Assessment      
 Economic and Regeneration Assessment      
 Environmental Statement      
 Evidence of Marketing Statement      
 Heritage Asset Statement      
 Land contamination Assessment      
 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment      
 Landscaping Strategy / Landscape Plan      
 Lighting Assessment      
 Listed Building Assessment      
 Measured Floor Plan Survey      
 Noise Assessment      
 Open Space Assessment      
 Planning Obligation(s) / draft Head of Terms      
 Planning Statement      
 Sequential Test for Flood Risk      
 Site Survey Drawing      
 Site Survey and Levels Drawing      
 Site Waste Management Plan      
 Statement of Community Involvement      
 Street Scene Drawing      
 Structural / Building Condition Survey      
 Sustainability Appraisal (Building)      
 Sustainable Urban Drainage System Statement (SUDS)      
 Town Centre Uses: Sequential Assessment      
 Town Centre Uses: Impact Assessment      
 Transport Assessment      
 Travel Plan      
 Tree Survey / Arboricultural survey      
 Utilities Statement      
Ventilation / Extraction statement      
Viability Assessment      

How do I prepare these documents?

Below you will find detailed guidance on how to correctly prepare each of the necessary documents. The government also offers guidance on making an valid application.

 

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Application form

Requirements

  • fully completed, signed, and dated - either via planning portal, or download a copy (external website)

How to prepare an application form

You can complete your application form either through the planning portal (external website) or by downloading a copy (external website).

Below is an explanation guiding through the different parts of the application form, and what you need to submit.

Application form: how to
 Part of application form What this meansWhat do you need to submit/attach? 
 1. Site address The address of the property you are looking to submit an application form. Not applicable.
 2. Applicant details Your contact details.  Not applicable
 3. Agent details Your agent's contact details (if you're using an agent)  Not applicable
 4. Description of proposed works A description of the work you are applying for  Be specific on what is happening, not just where.
 5. Materials Details of the materials you will be using in your proposal

Specify existing materials as well as proposed materials.

Make sure to include details of the plans you will be submitting. We recommend including both existing and proposed plans and elevations of work you are applying for, these should all be named and numbered and include scale bars.
 6. Trees and hedges Details of any trees within falling distance of your proposed development You can illustrate these on your submitted plans, make sure to include the plan reference number.
 7. Pedestrian and vehicle access, roads
and rights of way		 Details of any new or altered pedestrian and vehicle access points.   Not applicable
 8. Parking  Details of whether the proposed development affects existing parking arrangements.   Not applicable
 9. Site visit Details on whether the site is visible from the outside of your property.  If your proposal is in an area that is not visible from public land, the officer doing the site visit will contact you to arrange an appointment.
 10. Pre-application advice Have you used the Council's Planning Advice service? If yes, please include the reference number and the name(s) of any planning officers you have been in contact with
 11. Authority employee/member Declaration of whether you are a member of staff, an elected member, related to a member of staff, or related to an elected member of the Council  Not applicable
12. Ownership certificates and agricultural
land declaration		 Confirmation as to whether you are the owner of the property - fill in the appropriate certificate

Certificate A – you are the owner and the land is not used for agricultural purposes

Certificates B, C, and D – you are the owner of the land but the land is wholly/partly in agricultural use.
 13. Declaration Confirmation that you have submitted all necessary documents, and entered correct information

Ask yourself:

  • Are my contact/address details correct?
  • Have I described the work I want to do?
  • Have I submitted the existing and proposed plans? (Floor plans/elevations/roof)
  • Do my plans have scale bars?
  • Have I completed a Design and Access statement?
  • Are there any other documents I need to submit? (see website)

Best practice examples

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Site/block plan

Requirements

  • scaled at 1:500 or 1:200 - with scale bar
  • uses an up-to-date base map
  • shows the direction of North
  • (if relevant) all buildings, roads, footpaths on land adjoining the site
  • (if relevant) all public rights of way crossing or adjoining the site
  • (if relevant) the position of all trees on the site, including those directly adjacent and could be influenced/affected
  • (if relevant) extent and type of any hard surfacing and boundary treatment including walls or fencing where this is proposed

How to prepare a site/block plan

You can find some guidance on how to prepare a site/block plan below:

Best practice examples

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Location plan

Requirements

  • scaled at 1:1250 or 1:2500 - with scale bar
  • should be on an up-to-date base map
  • should (where possible) identify sufficient roads or buildings on land adjoining the application site
  • should set out the location of development with a red line, including access to the highway where needed
  • should set out any additional land under the ownership of the applicant in blue, if it immediate adjoins the proposed area
  • Please note that Ordnance Survey copyright law prevents us from accepting defaced Land Registry plans

How to prepare a location plan

You can find some guidance on how to prepare a location plan below:

Best practice examples

 

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Ownership certificate

Requirements

How to prepare an ownership certificate

Best practice examples

 

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Fee

Requirements

How to pay your fee

You can pay your fee using the button below

Pay your application fee

 

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Existing and proposed elevations

Requirements

  • scaled at 1:100 or 1:50 - with scale bar
  • should show the proposed works by using colour or hatching in relation to the existing. All sides of the proposal must be shown, and these should (where possible) include materials and style

How to prepare existing/proposed elevations

These can be drawn electronically or by hand.

If drawn by hand these must be scaled correctly.

Best practice examples

 

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Existing and proposed floor plans

Requirements

  • scaled at 1:100 or 1:50 - with scale bar
  • should explain the proposal in detail, and indicate where existing buildings and walls are to be demolished (preferably with a dotted line)
  • should show the proposed buildings in context with adjacent buildings

How to prepare existing/proposed floor plans

These can be drawn electronically or by hand.

If drawn by hand these must be scaled correctly.

Best practice examples

 

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Existing and proposed roof plans

Requirements

  • scaled at 1:100 or 1:50 - with scale bar
  • should include details such as the roofing material and their location

How to prepare existing/proposed roof plans

These can be drawn electronically or by hand.

If drawn by hand these must be scaled correctly.

Best practice examples

We are updating our website and will have examples of roof plans in due course.

 

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Ecology checklist

Requirements

  • fully completed using the ecology checklist [PDF| 140KB], with an ecological survey if required.

 

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Ecology survey

Requirements

  • a survey is required if the ecology checklist (above) indicates that one is needed.

 

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CIL liability

Requirements

 

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Site sections/levels

Requirements

  • only required when the works include alterations to ground levels (including raised/sunken patios, decking, steps, etc.)
  • scaled at 1:100 or 1:50 - with scale bar
  • should show levels in context of adjoining areas, and how encroachment onto adjoining land is to be avoided

How to prepare site sections/levels

These can be drawn electronically or by hand.

If drawn by hand these must be scaled correctly.

Best practice examples

We are updating our website and will have examples of site sections/levels in due course.

 

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Flood risk assessment

Requirements

  • only needed when the proposal falls in Flood Zone 2 or 3, or has over 1 hectare of land in Flood Zone 1

How to prepare a flood risk assessment

See guidance on how to do a flood risk assessment on Central Government's website (external website).

Best practice examples

We are updating our website and will have examples of flood risk assessments in due course.

 

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Design and access statement

Requirements

  • only needed when the proposal falls within a Conservation Area

How to prepare a design and access statement

See guidance on how to do a design and access statement on Planning Portal (external website).

 

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Need help making a valid application?

The Council offers a validation advice service to applicants wishing to ensure they make a valid planning application.

Please note: this service is aimed at applicants for householder schemes and will be offered for other schemes in due course.