Which Form

More than one type of consent may be required depending on what you are proposing and where appropriate you should use the relevant ‘combined’ form e.g. ‘planning permission and listed building consent.’

All planning applications must now provide sufficient information to allow the City Council to determine whether the development is liable to pay the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).  Applicants are therefore required to complete the CIL Additional Information Form which must be submitted with their application(s).  Guidance Notes are also available.

The following is a brief summary of the other forms you are most likely to use:

House holder

Use the Householder form for proposals to alter or enlarge a single house, including works within the curtilage (boundary/garden) of a house.  Common examples of when to make a Householder Application for planning permission include proposals for: extensions, conservatories, loft conversions, dormer windows, alterations, garages, car ports or outbuildings,  basement excavations, swimming pools, walls, fences, vehicular access including footway crossovers, porches and satellite dishes.

Full Planning Permission

Use the Full Planning Permission form and not the Householder Application form if an application relates to any of the following: any works relating to a flat, applications to sub-divide a house into more than one unit, proposals to build a separate house in a garden, changes to the number of dwellings on the site (flat conversions), changes of use to part or all of the property to non-residential (including business) uses, external alterations that require planning permission, including new shopfronts.

Full Planning Permission form should be used for change of use for placing tables and chairs on the highway.

Conservation area consent

Required only for the total or substantial demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area.  Conservation area consent is not required for alterations or extensions to unlisted buildings in conservation areas.  The City Council normally expects applications for conservation area consent to be submitted for:

 - total demolition of a building, 

 - total demolition behind retained façade(s),

 - demolition of a principal facade (e.g. front façade).

Where other substantial demolition works are proposed, please consult with the Council.

Conservation Area Consent is likely to be required to the demolition for boundary walls in a Conservation Area. 

Listed Building Consent

This is required for any works to the interior or exterior of a listed building which will affect its special interest, unless works of repair or maintenance. When in doubt please consult with the Council. Standard redecoration does not normally require listed building consent.

Complete the form for submitting an application for listed building consent, any works to a listed building whether covered by the listed description or not including internal alterations.

Advertisement Consent

Use for submitting an application for advertisement consent.  These generally cover illuminated advertisement signs such as fascia signs, projecting signs, advertisement hoardings and canopies attached to shopfront that contain an advertisement.

If the building is listed, listed building consent will also be required for the proposed advertisement (whether illuminated or not).

A Canopy to a shopfront with no advertisements requires planning permission  

Certificates of Lawfullness

These applications are used when an applicant is seeking clarification that an existing use/development or a proposed use/development is lawful under the Planning Acts.

Householders often use Certificates of Lawfulness to clarify that proposed alterations and extensions fall within permitted development rights, and /or are immune from enforcement action because the work took place more than 4 years.

Prior Approval

There are a number of different applications relating to prior approval.

Demolition - Prior approval is needed for the demolition of buildings used for residential purposes or is adjacent to such a building and is located outside a Conservation Area.

Telecommunications - There are also prior approvals in relation of telecommunications equipment – such as antennae, cabins and satellite dishes.

Statutory Undertakers -  A number of statutory undertakers ( such as London Underground , the Utility Companies ) have permitted development rights to carry out development  under the General Permitted Development Order and Acts of Parliament  , but need the Council's  prior approval for detailed design and external appearance of a new building . This can cover Crossrail proposals, electricity substations, and works to underground stations.

Reserved Matters, Removal or Variation of Conditions 

Following the grant of outline consent, the applicant has to apply for reserved matters approval for the detailed design of the scheme; these can include access arrangements, external appearance and landscaping.

Approval of details

Conditions are often imposed on the grant of a planning permission or listed building consent which requires the submission of further details such as materials or detailed drawings. These are also known as Approval of Details.

Applicants can also apply to vary the wording of a condition or to remove it all together, and there is a special application form that covers this.