Making a planning application - important changes

On 6 April 2008 the new National Standard Planning Application Forms (1APP) replaced all existing types of planning application forms (except minerals) in England.

Applications submitted on the old-style application forms will not be accepted by local planning authorities. This represents the biggest change to the planning system in recent years and a significant step forward in simplifying the planning system.

Making an online application

1APP has been primarily designed for electronic applications and is available online for applications to Suffolk Coastal via the Planning Portal (new window).

Once logged onto the Planning Portal, the applicant or agent is asked a series of questions to help determine which application form to complete. A form specific to the proposal is generated once this procedure is completed.

1APP covers the full range of application types including householder, planning permission, listed building consent, conservation area consent, tree applications (including tree preservation orders and trees in conservation areas) and advertisement consent. Along with the electronic planning application form, supporting plans and documents can also be submitted electronically as part of the online application process.

Making a paper application

Suffolk Coastal encourages the electronic submission of planning applications via the Planning Portal (new window).

If you wish to make a paper application you can download or print off the new 1APP forms by following the link below. The forms are also available for collection in person from the Council's offices or by post on request.

• Download or print off 1APP paper application forms.

To accompany the introduction of the new forms, the Government has also introduced new validation requirements. Before making a planning application, by whatever means, you will need to check your submission includes all the information necessary for the application to be validated.

In line with Government advice, the Council has produced guidance on the validation of planning applications and validation checklists for each type of application which should be studied before the submission of an application. You can view the guide and checklists by following the link below:

• Guide to the validation of planning applications and validation checklists (new window PDF 413KB).

Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.

The validation checklists include mandatory national requirements and additional local authority requirements. The requirements detailed in the checklists apply to applications submitted from 6 April 2008.

The objectives of these checklists are:

• to ensure applicants can be certain of information required to validate an application;
• to help applicants submit all the required documentation with their application;
• to reduce the number of invalid applications received;
• to reduce the need to place applications on hold awaiting more details;
• to provide a quicker and more efficient planning service.