What you must submit
Planning applications must, from the point at which they are received and registered, contain all the information we need to make a decision.
This helps planning officers to deal with your application more efficiently.
Our validation checklists (below) sets out the information you must include with your application.
Please be aware that all applications for planning permission will be expected to be accompanied by a CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) Liable Planning Application Additional Information Requirement Form any application submitted without this form will be deemed as invalid.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
BNG is now mandatory for applications for major and minor applications and Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021) requires developers to deliver 10% BNG so that development results in more or better quality natural habitat than before. BNG can be delivered on site, off site (through registered offsite biodiversity gains) or through the purchase of statutory biodiversity credits with a clear preference for onsite delivery. Any habitat enhancement delivered must be maintained for at least 30 years after the development is completed. BNG will be secured by a pre-commencement condition requiring the submission of a Biodiversity Gain Plan.
Applicants are encouraged to consider BNG early in the development process, and factor it into site selection and design, and to discuss the BNG requirements for their proposal with the local planning authority through its pre-application advice service. Please also see validation advice below.
More information can be found online: Biodiversity net gain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For all developments requiring biodiversity net gain a standard deemed condition will be included on all planning permissions, requiring the submission of a Biodiversity Gain Plan. A template for this is available via the link below. In more complex cases a Section 106 agreement will be required. Where significant Biodiversity Net Gain is proposed, a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan will be required. This should include detailed information on how the habitat creation/enhancement will be undertaken, and how the habitats will be managed and monitored for the next 30 years. It should set out a schedule of monitoring visits and the surveys that will be required, as well as a caveat for regular reviews of the management measures and may include a procedure for remedial measures if the habitat is not developing as expected.
Biodiversity gain plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)