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Making a planning application

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You must get planning permission for most types of building work and to change the use of a building.




Do I need planning permission?


Anyone who wishes to carry out work on buildings or land may be required to, firstly, obtain planning permission. Planning permission is necessary for a wide range of development, including relatively minor alterations that may affect the appearance or use of buildings. Find out if you need planning permission for your development.



How do I make a planning application?



This link to apply for a planning application opens in a new window For a quick and easy way to apply, do it online using the Planning Portal online application service. Submiting all your forms, plans and supporting documents to us electronically will speed up the process of your application.

For help with your online application see the Planning Portal application guidance notes along with details of the National and Local requirements, which are set out in our individual application packs.

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Alternatively you can submit a paper copy of your application by selecting the relevant form from our list of planning application forms.


Should you require guidance, please contact the Technical Support Team on 020 8430 2000 or email development.control@newham.gov.uk.


How much will my application cost?


Most planning applications require a fee. The fee varies and depends on what you propose to do.

There is a fee calculator which can help you by working out the cost of any particular planning application. The calculator asks a series questions to help determine the total cost of an application, ranging from a simple householder development to large scale schemes such as housing schemes or industrial estates.

Ways to pay

  1. Debit/credit card - we are able to accept telephone payments by debit or credit card; please contact our Technical support team on 020 8430 2000 (Ext. 34120).
  2. Cheque - please ensure that the site address and reference number are detailed clearly on the back of the cheque and send it to:

    Planning Portal Payments
    Development Control
    Regeneration & Development
    London Borough of Newham
    Newham Dockside
    1st Floor, West Wing
    Dockside Road
    London
    E16 2QU

What do I need to submit with my application?


The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will be a new charge which local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of new development in their area. CIL charges will be based on simple formulae which relate the size of the charge to the size and character of the development paying it. The proceeds of the levy will be spent on local and sub-regional infrastructure to support the development of the area, for example schools, parks and sustainable transport initiatives. The Mayor of London is proposing to charge a CIL for the greater London area which is intended to raise £300 million towards the delivery of Crossrail. The London Mayor's CIL Charging Schedule has recently gone through an Examination in Public (EiP) but it has not been formally adopted yet, however it is set to be in operation from 1 April 2012. The Mayor is proposing a charge of £20 per square metre charge for Newham.


If CIL applies to your proposed development you are required to completed and return this form with your application. If you do not provide this information your application will automatically be deemed invalid until we receive the completed form.

Further information can be found on the scheme at the Mayor of London's web site and on our Planning Policy page.

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Community Infrastructure Levy Form (pdf).


Once you have established that planning permission is required for your proposed development, you will need to apply for the appropriate type of planning permission or consent.

Word document Read our advice guide which sets out what information and documentation must be submitted with your planning application (Word doc.).


Further useful information can be found underneath the table below.

Your application will then go through a process known as 'validation', which is based upon two lists of requirements: a 'National' list of minimum information requirements which is set by the government; and a 'Local' list of supplementary local information requirements which is set by this council.

Please note: your application will be treated as invalid if you fail to submit all the information and documents required and cannot be processed. Please ensure that you read our advice guide before submitting your application. Poor quality drawings may also cause delay.

From the 1 January 2013, the following will be required to be submitted with every application:

For any application submitted by post, an electronic copy of the application submission (all plans and documentation) will need to be provided:
- The electronic copy of the submission should be provided on a CD which is submitted with the application submission. Alternatively the documents can be e-mailed to planning.submissions@newham.gov.uk (please provide details of the description of the proposal and the site address within the e-mail);
- The files should be in a PDF format (preferably measuring tool enabled) and each file should be no larger than 10MB in size (large documents should be sub-divided into separate files).

For all applications submitted by post or via the Planning Portal:
- two paper copies of the of the application submission (all plans and documentation) will be required for any application that is referable to the Greater London Authority (GLA);
- one paper copy will be required for all other applications.

Applications will be made invalid until the above requirements have been complied with. Subsequently if the above is not received within 21 days, the application file will be closed.


Listed below are links to individual application packs which detail Local and National requirements. These explain the information and documentation that must be submitted with all planning applications, along with guidance notes to assist both applicants and agents.

Please note: different types of applications require different types of information and supporting documents.

Application type Local and national requirements Guidance notes
Householder

For applications for domestic properties, e.g. extensions, sheds, and garages.
Householder requirements (Word doc.) Householder application notes

Householder and Listed Building consent notes

Householder and Conservation Area consent notes
Full Planning Permission

For applications for new residential and commercial properties and extensions/alterations to commercial premises.
Full planning permission requirements (Word doc.) Full application notes

Planning Permission and Listed Building consent notes

Planning Permission and Conservation consent notes

Planning Permission and Advertisement consent notes
Outline Planning Permission

For domestic and commercial outline permission.
Outline planning permission requirements (Word doc.) Outline Permission with All Matters Reserved notes

Outline Permission with Some Matters Reserved notes
Conservation Area Consent

For internal and/or external alterations, or to apply for the demolition of a building within a conservation area.
Conservation area consent requirements (Word doc.) Application for Conservation Area consent notes

Newham's Conservation Areas
Listed Building Consent

For internal and/or external alterations, or to apply for the demolition of a listed building.
Listed building consent requirements (Word doc.) Application for Listed Building consent notes

List of Newham's Listed Buildings
Advertisement Consent

To apply for permission to display an advertisement.
Advertisement consent requirements (Word doc.) Application for Advertisement consent notes

Planning permission & Advertisement consent notes
Lawful Development Certificate (existing)

To establish if an existing use, activity or operation is lawful, including those in breach of conditions.
Lawful development certificate (existing) requirements (Word doc.) Application for Lawful Development notes
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed)

To apply for a lawful development certificate for a proposed use, activity or operation.
Lawful development certificate (proposed) requirements (Word doc.) Application for Lawful Development notes
Prior Notification (demolition)

For applications for prior notification of proposed demolitions.
Prior notification (demolition) requirements (Word doc.) Prior notification (demolition) notes
Approval of Details Pursuant to a Condition

For applications for the removal or variation of conditions following the conditional granting or planning permission.
Approval of details pursuant to a condition requirements (Word doc.) Approval of details pursuant to a condition notes
Tree Works (including TPO consent)

For works to trees subject to a tree preservation order (TPO) and/or notification of proposed works to trees in a conservation area.
Tree works (including TPO consent) requirements (Word doc.) Tree works (including TPO consent) notes

Hedgerow Removal Notice notes
Non-material Amendment

Application to make a non-material amendment to an existing planning permission.
Non-material amendment requirements (Word doc.) Non-material amendment notes
Section 73

Application to make minor changes to an existing planning permission.
Section 73 requirements (Word doc.) Full application (section 73) notes
Renewal of Planning Permission

Application for extension of time on an existing, current planning permission.
Renewal of planning permission requirements (Word doc.) Renewal of planning permission notes


Further useful information



How can I get advice before making an application?


You are encouraged to discuss your application with a planning officer before making an application. Find out how to get advice and information about charging here.


What happens after I make my application?


Once we receive your application, it will be registered and checked to make sure it is valid and complete for processing. If your application does not contain the relevant information, as set out in the national and local planning application requirements lists detailed above, your application will be deemed invalid, along with any applications received on the old forms after this date.

If your application is invalid, the council will set out the reasons via telephone, email (preferred method of contact) or in writing to you and specify the information required in order to make the application valid.

Please note that invalid applications will be retained by the council for a maximum period of 21 days, after which all documents will be returned and you will need to resubmit the entire application, including the additional information as previously requested.

Once your application is valid, we will send you a letter of confirmation advising you of the reference number, the case officer's name, and the date by which you should receive a decision.

The council keeps a register of all applications and decisions, including submitted plans. This is available for view online through our PublicAccess website.

Data Protection

Newham Council seeks to comply with all statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act (1998) in all its transactions. Information provided will be used for the purpose of processing your application and some of the information you provide will form part of the Public Register which we are required to publish by law.


How long before I receive a decision?


Most planning applications are decided within 8 weeks. Major applications are decided within 13 weeks. These are set periods required by law. Most applications require a minimum consultation period of 3 weeks where neighbours or the public in general are notified of the application and are given the opportunity to make comments.


What type of decision will be given?


We can grant planning permission, with conditions, or refuse it. Reasons will be given for those conditions attached to a planning permission and also when planning permission is refused.

Examples of conditions which might be attached to a planning permission are: to restrict the use to a limited period of years; to specify details of the building materials to be used; to specify the number of car parking spaces to be provided; and to ensure that landscaping is set out as shown on the submitted plans.

If you do not accept our decision, either against refusal or against a particular condition, or against our failure to give a decision within the legally defined period (usually 8 weeks), there is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment.

For more information concerning the appeal procedure visit our planning appeals page.


Can I make changes to my application?


The set period of 8 weeks is not usually long enough to allow time to negotiate changes to your application. Your proposal will therefore be considered, as it is submitted. You are therefore strongly advised to discuss your application with a planning officer before you submit it. This will help to ensure your application is determined as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

Please see our pre-application advice and charging page for more information.


Standard S106 clauses


Word document
Download the S106 clauses document here (Word doc.)



This document sets out the standard clauses normally used on S106 legal agreements that accompany certain planning decisions. Agents and applicants may wish to note these for their own reference and to aid in the drafting and preparing of legal agreements.



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