Planning advice and guidance

We use the government's Planning Portal website to provide services and guidelines about the planning system. Local circumstances may override their guidelines, so you may need to check with us.

General guidance

• Planning system information on the Planning Portal - a wide range of services and guidance about the planning system.
• A guide to planning legislation and practice (pdf, 1.2 MB) (opens new window) - how to get involved in planning decisions.

Planning permission

• Is permission needed (Planning Portal)?  - Information on whether planning permission is needed for your project.
• Submit a planning application online (Planning Portal)
• Appeals guidance (Planning Portal) - how to make an appeal, search for and comment on appeals.
• Marketing guidelines for a change of use planning application (pdf, 36 KB) (opens new window).
• The Bristol Planning Protocol (pdf, 3.4 MB) (opens new window) - information about working together on major planning applications.

Legislation and planning research

• Policy and research on Planning Portal - access to legislation and planning research documents.

For developers

• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - for information on the CIL Charging Schedule
• Waste and recycling booklet (pdf, 319 KB) (opens new window) - guidance for developers, owners and occupiers relating to waste and recycling storage facilities.
• Cycle parking provision guidance (pdf, 263 KB) (opens new window) - for developers, such as type of rack to use, spacing requirements and suppliers.
• Guidelines for Pre Application Involvement (pdf, 31 KB) (opens new window) - guidance for developers relating to community involvement.
• Tree Planting Obligations (pdf, 34 KB) (opens new window)- guidance for developers relating to tree planting.
• Protocol for temporary advertising of development sites (pdf, 37 KB) (opens new window) - guidance relating to the application requirements and assessment, of temporary advertisements on development sites.

For householders

• Planning agents - accreditation scheme - a new scheme to help speed up the registration and processing of householder applications.