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National information requirements

National planning policy dictates that certain documents and information are submitted with every planning application. In general, this consists of information provided on the standard application form and supporting documents to accompany the application. However the nature of the supporting information will vary depending on the type and scale of the application. These requirements are statutory – a planning application cannot be processed if the necessary information is not received. There is also a list of information requirements that are specific to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. All planning authorities may have such a list of Local information requirements to take into account the particular qualities of the area they cover, in our case, the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Reasons for national and local requirements:

  • Help you, the planning applicant, from the outset, to understand the type and extent of information that will be required of you.
  • Provide you with greater certainty.
  • Enable us to have all the information we need in order to determine the application, draft the planning permission and word any planning conditions required.
  • Minimise the risk that we will have to come back to you for more information and thus the risk that we will fail to achieve our performance targets.

Select from the following for more details of information that must be submitted with planning applications:

Application form

All applications must include the relevant application form; where certificates are required as part of the application form, further information is given below:

Applicants must complete an ownership certificate (which is found at the end of the application form) and confirm that an appropriate notice has been served on any other owners (and agricultural tenants). An application is not valid, and therefore cannot be determined by the planning authority, unless the relevant certificate has been completed. It is an offence to complete a false or misleading certificate, either knowingly or recklessly, with a maximum fine, on conviction, of up to £5,000.

Certificate A – Sole Ownership and no agricultural tenants

This should only be completed if the applicant is the sole owner of the land to which the application relates and there are no agricultural tenants.

Certificate B – Shared Ownership (All other owners/agricultural tenants known)

This should be completed if the applicant is not the sole owner, or if there are agricultural tenants, and the applicant knows the names and addresses of all the other owners and/or agricultural tenants.

Certificate C – Shared Ownership (Some other owners/agricultural tenants known)

This should be completed if the applicant does not own all of the land to which the application relates and does not know the name and address of all of the owners and/or agricultural tenants.

Certificate D – Shared Ownership (None of the other owners/agricultural tenants known)

This should be completed if the applicant does not own all of the land to which the application relates and does not know the names and addresses of any of the owners and/or agricultural tenants.

An ‘owner’ is anyone with a freehold interest, or leasehold interest (the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years). In the case of development consisting of the winning or working of minerals, a person entitled to an interest in a mineral in the land is also an owner.

An ‘agricultural tenant’ is a tenant of an agricultural holding, any part of which is comprised in the land to which the application relates.

For any electronically submitted certificate, a typed signature of the applicant’s name is acceptable. Ownership certificates must also be completed for applications for listed building consent, although no agricultural declaration is required.

Fee

Most applications require a fee, as set by the Government. There are some exceptions such as: works to improve access and/or safety; health and comfort of disabled persons; and certain resubmissions.

Location plan

Required for all applications. Based on an up to date map at a scale of 1:2500 or 1:1250. The application site must be edged clearly with a red line. It should include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development – for example, land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around the buildings. A blue line must be drawn around any other land owned by the applicant, close to or adjoining the application site.

Site and block plan

Required in all cases where the site layout will change as a result of the proposal, applications must include copies of a site or block plan which should be drawn at an appropriate metric scale of 1:200 or 1:500 and should accurately show:

  • the direction of north;
  • the proposed development in relation to the site boundaries and other existing buildings on the site.

The following should also be accurately shown by the plan, unless these would NOT influence or be affected by the proposed development:

  • all the buildings, roads and footpaths on land adjoining the site including access arrangements
  • all public rights of way crossing or adjoining the site
  • the position of all trees on the site, and those on adjacent land
  • the extent and type of any hard surfacing
  • boundary treatment including walls or fencing where this is proposed.

Elevations – existing and proposed

Required in all cases where the elevations will change as a result of the proposal. Elevations should be drawn to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and show clearly the proposed works in relation to what is already there. All sides of the proposal must be shown. These should indicate, where possible, the proposed building materials and the style, materials and finish of windows and doors. Blank elevations must also be included, if only to show that this is in fact the case. For new buildings, full information should also be submitted to demonstrate how proposed buildings relate to existing site levels and neighbouring development. Such plans should show existing site levels, finished floor levels and finished height (with levels related to a fixed datum point off site) and also show the proposals in relation to adjoining buildings. Where a proposed elevation adjoins another building or is in close proximity, the drawings should clearly show the relationship between the buildings, and detail the positions of the openings on each property.

Floor plans – existing and proposed

Required in all cases where changes to the layout are proposed. Floor plans should be drawn to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and should explain the proposal in detail. Where existing buildings or walls are to be demolished these should be clearly shown. The drawings submitted should show details of the existing building(s) as well as those for the proposed development.

Sections – existing and proposed

These are required when:

  • a change in ground level is proposed or the site is sloping;
  • a new building is proposed;
  • a track is proposed;
  • new openings, new staircases or double glazing are proposed.

Sections should be drawn at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and should show a cross section(s) through the proposed building(s) and/or feature. In all cases where a proposal involves a change in ground levels, illustrative drawings should be submitted to show both existing and finished levels. For new buildings, full information should also be submitted to demonstrate how proposed buildings relate to existing site levels and neighbouring development. Such plans should show existing site levels and finished floor levels (with levels related to a fixed datum point off site) and also show the proposals in relation to adjoining buildings. In the case of extensions to existing buildings, the levels may be evident from floor plans and elevations. Particularly in the case of sloping sites it will be necessary to show how proposals relate to existing ground levels or where ground levels outside the extension would be modified. Levels should also be taken into account in the formulation of Design and access statements, where required. In the case of a new track, a section through the proposed track should be provided, showing the method of construction and materials.

Roof plan

Required in all cases where works to the roof or new roofs are proposed. Roof plans should be drawn at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and are used to show the shape of the roof. Details such as the roofing material, vents, rooflights, sun-pipes, chimneys, solar panels and their location should be specified on the roof plan.

Design and access statement

Required for all major planning applications* except:

  • A material change of use of land or building where there is no operational development
  • Engineering or mining operations
  • Waste development
  • Vary or Remove condition
  • Extend Time limit for implementation of extant planning permission.

Required for all listed building consent applications (can be included within the Heritage Statement) except for:

  • Extend Time limit for implementation of extant planning permission

Required for applications in a conservation area or a world heritage site for:

  • Provision of one or more dwellinghouses
  • Provision of building(s) where the floor space is 100 square metres or more

What is required:

Design principles and concepts

This section should explain the thinking behind the proposal and clearly set out the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development.

Context

This section should demonstrate the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how the design of the development takes that context into account.

Access

  • Explain the policy adopted as to access, and how policies relating to access in relevant local development documents have been taken into account.
  • State what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the development and what account has been taken of the outcome of any such consultation.
  • Explain how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have been addressed.

Listed buildings

For listed building consent applications the statement should also explain how the following have been taken into account in relation to both design and access:

  • The special architectural or historic importance of the building.
  • The particular physical features of the building that justify its designation as a listed building.
  • The building’s setting.

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* “major” means development involving any one or more of the following:
(a) the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits;
(b) waste development;
(c) the provision of dwellinghouses where: (i) the number of dwellinghouses to be provided is 10 or more; or (ii) the development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the development falls within sub-paragraph (c)(i);
(d) the provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the development is 1,000 square metres or more; or
(e) development carried out on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more.