South Derbyshire District Council

Once you have decided that you need planning permission, this page leads you through the application process.

Types of application

Outline Planning Permission
If you want to know whether you can have permission for buildings on a site without spending a lot of money on detailed drawings, you can apply for outline planning permission. The more information you give the better, however, the details can follow later. These are called reserved matters. If we think it will be difficult to make a decision, we may ask you to give us more information.
Full Planning Permission
If you want to change the use of land or buildings, or if you want to give all the details of buildings now, you must apply for full permission
Reserved Matters
If you have outline planning permission and want us to approve the details, you must fill in the form and send us the plans. Please make sure that the details do not conflict with the outline permission or any conditions attached to it.

Making the application

The Government has changed the system for validating (registering) planning and related applications. All applications will need to provide a core list of information known as the "National" Requirements and further information defined in a "Local" Requirements list.

The scheme began on 6 April 2008. You can view the National Requirements and the Local Requirements.

You can download application forms and guidance notes from this site or request copies from the planning department. Alternatively, you can apply online via the Planning Portal website. You will need to include maps, plans and drawings of the proposal with your application, drawn to sufficient detail and to a recognised scale. The plans needed are as follows:

The Site Plan: This should show your proposal site and all adjoining houses and roads, with a red line drawn around your proposal site and a blue line around any other land you own. The plan should be to a scale of 1:1250. You must show all the existing buildings on your proposal site.

The Block Plan: This should be of a scale of at least 1:200 or 1:500 and should show how you proposal relates to existing buildings on the site and other buildings or house on every boundary. The address of these properties should also be shown.

The Building Drawings: (Except in the case of outline applications where additional drawings are not needed)

Should show the 'layout' of rooms in the whole building (one plan for each floor if more than one floor) and indicate doors, windows, thickness of walls and type of materials used.
What the new building will look like from the outside (known as the 'elevations'), showing building materials to be used, front, side and rear elevations must be drawn.

These detailed plans must be drawn accurately, usually to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100.

Once you have filled in the forms, you can post them along with the plans and drawings, and the correct fee (see application fees guidance below), to the council offices, or deliver them to us yourself during office hours. You can also pay your application fee on-line . See application fees guidance in the related documents section for the correct amount.

If you are planning a residential develoment of 10 or more dwellings, you are advised to read our guide 'Better Design for South Derbyshire' which, can be downloaded from the bottom of this page under 'Related Documents'. The guide provides advice on the steps that need to be taken in order to achieve high quality design solutions.

You can also find information on application forms and guidance notes.

Please note that with the exception of applicant contact details and signatures, the information provided on any application form and in supporting documents will usually be published on this website. If you have provided any other information as part of your application which falls within the definition of personal data under the Data Protection Act which you do not wish to be published on the website, please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.

Design and Access Statements

The Design and Access Statements (DAS) for outline and full permission are available in the related documents section.

As of 10 August 2006 a DAS must accompany:

All outline planning applications
All listed building consent applications and
Many full planning applications

DAS are not required for:

A material change in the use of land or buildings, unless it also involves operational development
Engineering or mining operations
Development of an existing dwelling house, or within its curtilage for any purpose incidental to its enjoyment, unless any part of the dwelling house or its curtilage is within a designated conservation area, area of outstanding natural beauty or site of special scientific interest
Applications for the approval of reserved matters – UNLESS details are required by outline planning permission conditions
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Tree Preservation Order or
Storage of hazardous substances.

The council will then acknowledge the application in writing, and will deal with the application within eight weeks from this date or 13 weeks for 'major' applications.

Possible constraints on land

You should also be aware of possible constraints to development which can impact on proposals. These can include (click on the constraint for more information):

What happens next?

The council will publicise your application, and there will be a consultation period to allow neighbours, members of the public, and other consultees to comment on the application.

An officer will need to visit the site. If there is no one at the site when the visit is made it will be assumed that you agree to the site being accessed, unless you tell us otherwise. If you know it will be difficult for the case officer to gain access to the site please contact us to arrange a visit as soon as possible, this will ensure there are no unnecessary delays in dealing with your application.

The council will consider your application with respect to the development plan, and supplementary planning guidance.

Finally, your application will be decided, usually by a planning officer (with powers delegated from the council's Development Control Committee) but in some cases it will be referred to the council's Development Control Committee. We have just introduced a pilot scheme for applicants/agent and objectors to speak at the committee.

Once the decision has been made you will receive a formal decision notice in writing. In some cases, permission will be granted subject to conditions, for example restricting the usage of the building, or requiring that particular materials be used. For more information, see the decision notices page.

If an application is refused, an appeal may be lodged with the Secretary of State. Information about how to appeal.