Advice on planning application supporting documents

Planning Gateway One Fire Statement

This is a national validation requirement to ensure fire safety matters are incorporated at the planning stage.

A Planning Gateway One Fire Statement must be included for all applications for full planning permission which involve:

• provision of one or more relevant buildings, or
• development of an existing relevant building or
• development within the curtilage of a relevant building.

Relevant buildings are those which contain two or more dwellings or educational accommodation and meet the height condition (18m or more in height, or 7 or more storeys whichever is reached first).

Fire Statements must be submitted on the standard form on GOV.UK

See also fire statements form guidance.

Applications for planning permission will be exempt from the requirement to submit a fire statement where:

• the application is for a material change in use of a relevant building and the material change of use would result in the building no longer being a relevant building
• the application is for a material change in use of land or buildings within the curtilage of a relevant building and the material change of use would not result in the provision of one or more relevant buildings
• the application is for outline planning permission
• the application is for permission to develop land without compliance with conditions under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Applications for outline planning permission will be exempt from the requirement to submit a fire statement because matters such as layout and scale can be reserved.

Further guidance on the requirements of Planning Gateway One is provided in the relevant section of the NPPG

London Plan Fire Statement

In addition to the above, in accordance with the London Plan, all major applications must be accompanied by a Fire Statement as required under Policy D12B of the London Plan. This is irrespective of whether it is development to a relevant building subject to the national requirement for a Gateway One Fire Statement.

The Fire Statement should set out an independent fire strategy and must be produced by a third party, suitably qualified assessor. Draft guidance on complying with the London Plan requirements is on the GLA website.

For other applications, fire safety considerations should be addressed in line with Policy D12 where relevant and commentary included in the design and access or other documents, as appropriate.