This note explains the requirements regarding the submission of planning applications and the quality and detail shown on plans submitted to the City Council. The Council has a legal duty to ensure that planning applications are complete and valid, and that members of the public are able to examine, understand and comment on them.
Submitting plans electronically
There are special requirements for submitting plans electronically, either by email or CD/DVD, or via the Planning Portal. Please read the page Plan formats for electronic submissions, which sets out our policy for accepting plans and other documents electronically.
Location plan
Four copies of an up-to-date location plan, preferably taken from an Ordnance Survey sheet and to a scale of 1:1250, clearly showing the location of the application site in relation to the adjacent properties, must be submitted with all applications. You must use a valid licensed plan for this purpose. Extracts from Ordnance Survey sheets may be purchased from licensees of the Ordnance Survey.
Site boundary
The boundary of the application site must be outlined in red and all adjoining land in the control of the applicant outlined in blue. This must correspond with ownership details given on the application form and ownership certificate.
Scale
All plans must be drawn to metric dimensions and to a recognised scale such as 1:10, 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200 and 1:500.
Relationship to boundary features of the site and adjoining properties
The submitted plans shall clearly show the relationship and distance of the proposal to all site boundaries, including the highway boundary, and the relationship to all adjoining buildings including any windows. This will require a plan to a scale of a minimum of 1:500 in addition to a location plan. Existing trees, buildings, change of level and other features of the site should also be shown.
Quality and clarity of plans
Existing and proposed situations should be clearly and accurately shown. This can be on separate "Survey" and "Proposed" drawings, or by shading new work and showing demolitions with broken lines. New, retained and removed features should be similarly shown.
