10 tips to avoid your planning application being delayed

When you submit an application to us, the first thing that we do is check whether you have provided all the information that we will need to assess it. We call this process ​‘validation’. 

If your application is missing any of the information that we need, things will be delayed (held as ‘invalid’) until you send it us. To help you avoid these delays, we have listed below the 10 most common reasons why applications are invalid.

1 -   Incorrect Ownership Certificate completed on the Application form.  If any part of a proposed development would extend beyond the Owner's boundary (for example eaves, guttering or foundations encroachment) you would be required to complete Certificate B and serve notice in writing on the adjacent landowner.

2 -  Drawings not showing all existing and proposed elevations, or not labelled clearly, correctly, or at all. All drawings must be given a descriptive label (for example, ‘existing first floor plan’ or ‘proposed front elevation’. 

3 -  Inaccurate or incomplete plans and information. We give guidance on the drawings and other supporting information that we require with your application in our Validation Checklist.

4 - Plan, elevation and/or section drawings which do not match each other. For example, doors or windows are not shown on both plan and elevation drawings, or are shown in inconsistent locations. 

5 - Drawings not drawn to a recognised scale. All drawings must be to a scale recognised in our Validation Checklist and must clearly state the scale or have dimensions marked on the Plan.

6 -  No red line drawn around the application site on the site location plan. More details of this requirement can be found in the National Planning Practice Guidance.   

7 - Other supporting information required to support an application as set out in the Validation Checklist, for example Transport Assessment, Noise Assessment or Fire Safety Report.

8 - No Design and Access Statement submitted when one is required. (This does not apply to Householders).  A Design and Access Statement must be submitted for major applications, listed building consent applications, applications in world heritage sites and conservation areas where the application is for one or more dwellings or where the floor space created by the building or buildings is 100 square metres or more. 

9 -  Incorrect fee, or no fee paid. The Planning Portal provides a useful fee calculator here (external) and full list of fees for different types of planning permission.  

10 -  Application submitted without a CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) Additional Information form. (This does not apply to Householders where less than 100sqm additional floorspace is proposed).   The Planning Portal provides accompanying guidance notes. 

Before you submit your application, we recommend that you review the national information requirements in the National Planning Practice Guidance and our Tyneside Validation Checklist.