Planning application forms

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Application forms

If you need to apply for planning permission you need to complete an application form to send with your drawings, the fee and other information. There are different application forms depending on the type of application you are making. Please select the form relevant to your proposal from the list below.

General guidance

  • Before sending your application, please read the relevant checklist, which may be found in the related documents section. The checklist will help you in providing information to support your application.
  • Two copies of the application form and supporting plans and drawings must be supplied, unless you are making an online planning application
  • Most planning applications need a fee.
  • A Design and Access Statement will be needed for most applications.

Personal details

The information you give in the application form and supporting drawings and documents can be viewed on our website. If you do not want your email address or phone number to be viewed online:

  • Please enclose on a separate piece of paper marked ‘sensitive’.
  • Do not include these details in electronic communications.
  • Tell us about any personal information that you do not want placed on the website.

Please make sure you have checked the validation lists and fee information before sending us your application. If you do not provide all the necessary information, your application may be deemed invalid.

Householder

This form is for householders who wish to seek permission for building works within the boundary of a single dwellinghouse. These forms must not be used if the property in question is a flat, a building divided into flats, or if it is proposed to convert the house into another type of use.

You should also read our Supplementary Planning Document 2 - A guide for designing house alterations and extensions (pdf, 1.1 MB)

Full planning

This form is for applicants who wish to seek permission for new buildings, change of use, alterations/extensions to business properties and creation of flats.

Listed building consent

This form is for applicants who wish to seek consent for any works to the interior or exterior of a listed building.

Conservation area consent

This form is for applicants who wish to seek consent for the demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area.

Advertisement

This form should be used for the erection or display of a sign, fascia sign, notice or advertisement.

Outline planning

Reserved matters

Certificates of lawfulness

These forms are for applications to find out whether a use is, or would be, lawful for planning purposes.

Approval of details reserved by condition

This form should be used to apply for approval that conditions imposed by a planning permission have been discharged/complied with.

Works to trees or hedgerow removal

Non-material amendment to a planning permission

This form should be used to make an application for a non-material amendment (or amendments) to an existing planning permission.

Extension of time limit for existing planning permission

This form should be used to extend the life of existing planning permissions (and any associated listed building or conservation area consent).

Miscellaneous

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Plans and drawings

Guidance for applicants - Plans and drawings to be submitted with a planning application (pdf, 85 KB).

Detailed drawings are the most important part of a planning application. This document will help you in making your application and includes details on:

  • presentation and submission of plans
  • plans and drawings needed
  • information needed for specific application types.

Please note that two copies of each plan/drawing must be sent with your application.
More information on the submission of plans and drawings online.

Site location plan

The purpose of a site location plan is to:

  • identify the land to which the application relates and
  • to show the location of the site in relation to surrounding roads, buildings and other land.

This is an important tool in helping members of the public to identify the site and get involved in the planning process.

The location plan must:

  • be taken from an up to date Ordnance Survey Base, or to an equivalent standard
  • be to a suitable scale of 1:1250 for most applications, or 1:2500 for larger sites and where possible be on an A4 sheet of paper with the application site in the centre of the plan.
  • show adjoining road names and property numbers
  • show the application site boundary outlined in red. 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 buildings
  • show any other adjoining land owned by the applicant outlined in blue
  • show the direction of north.

Get your site location plan from:

  • The Planning Portal.
  • Blackwell's (Dan Gooding), 89 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5PW, telephone 0117 9262322.
  • Stanfords, 29 Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1HT, telephone 0117 9299966.

Site layout plan

A site layout plan (block plan) shows:

  • a detailed layout of the whole site and
  • the relationship of the proposed works within the boundary of the property, nearby roads and neighbouring buildings.

Most applications will need an existing and a proposed site layout plan.

The layout plan should be drawn at an identified standard metric scale and should accurately show:

  • the direction of north
  • the proposed development in relation to the site boundaries and other existing buildings on the site, with written dimensions including those to the boundaries.

The site layout plan should also accurately show the following, unless these would not influence, or be affected by the proposed development:

  • all the buildings, roads and footpaths on land next to the site including access arrangements
  • all public rights of way (footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic) crossing or next to the site
  • the position of all trees on the site, and those on land next to the site
  • the extent and type of any hard surfacing, for example parking spaces, turning areas, paths and location of refuse and recycling facilities
  • boundary treatments, including position and height of walls and fencing where this is proposed
  • identification of any buildings to be demolished.
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Certificates of ownership and notices

Ownership certificates are included on the national standard application form.

All applications for planning permission must include the appropriate certificate of ownership. One certificate must be completed, either A, B C or D, stating the ownership of the property.

Your application will not be valid unless the right certificate of ownership is filled in.

Agricultural Holdings Certificate

For certain applications, this certificate is needed whether or not the site includes an agricultural holding. It is included in the standard application form and must be signed so that the application can be made valid.

Certificate A

You must fill in Certificate A where you are the sole owner of all of the application site.

Owner is defined not only as someone who is the freehold owner, but also includes anyone with a lease that has seven years remaining unexpired.

Certificate B

You must fill in Certificate B if:

  • you are not the owner of the application site, but know who is, or
  • you are a part owner of the site and know the owner(s).

You must also fill in Certificate B if the proposed building works encroach onto someone else's property (for example, foundations or overhanging gutters).

In this case, you must serve notice on every other owner of your proposal. You must confirm that this has been done on the certificate.

See the Notices section below to download the notices.

What if I don't know the owner of the application site?

If you do not own the site and either part or all of the ownership is unknown, you will have to fill in either Certificate C or D.

Certificate C

You must fill in Certificate C if you only know some of the owner(s).

In this case:

  • you must fill in and serve notice on every other owner, and
  • notice of the application must be published in a local newspaper.

You must let us have a copy of the advertisement with the certificate.

Certificate D

You must fill in Certificate D if you do not know who owns the site.

In this case:

  • you must show steps taken to find out the names and addresses of owner(s), and
  • notice of the application must be published in a local newspaper.

You must let us have a copy of the advertisement with the certificate.

Notices to be served and/or published (downloads)

Notices under Article 11 (application for planning permission)

Notices under Article 11 (application for householder permission)

Notices under Regulation 6 (application for Listed Building and/or Conservation Area Consent)

Please note

It is a punishable offence to knowingly or recklessly complete a false or misleading certificate. Before deciding an application, if we find that a signed certificate is false, the application will be made invalid.

Contact information

Development Services

Brunel House

St George's Road

Bristol, BS1 5UY

Opening Hours

Visit Brunel House - we operate appointment only visits to this office. Please telephone to make an appointment.



Related documents

Internal links

Date for review:  15/06/2012 | Short link: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/3873
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