Arthur Wilson
Developing a property can be an exceptionally fulfilling journey, one that often relinquishes a reward that keeps on giving.
This doesn’t mean it’s without its fair share of unique hurdles to overcome, and in fact, this can make it all the more worthwhile to begin with.
Before your idea can be brought fully into the material world, there’s paperwork to be done.
It’s worth noting that this process doesn’t have to be as complicated as one might imagine, especially if you know what to watch out for.
Depending on the nature of your particular build, you may not even need planning permission, but if you do, then making sure you fill out the right forms is crucial.
One of the best ways to clarify this is to follow the guidelines on the government’s website, as this can ensure you don’t go too far wrong.
Your local council website should also have a ‘planning’ section where you can find relevant forms and advice.
You can certainly do it yourself, but sometimes, a little help from a specialist town planning consultant is the best way to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.
When you submit your application to your local government, you might find yourself wanting to detail every element of your grand design ambitions.
Electing to instead keep it clear and concise is probably a much better idea otherwise, you could be giving yourself more work and actually hinder your chances of being approved.
You will need to include your site plan and a location plan, but if your design and your local laws demand it, you may have to attach more supporting documents, such as a fire safety certificate, street scenes and context plans.
Consulting your local council guidelines is crucial in this regard because aside from the national minimum, the specific requirements can vary greatly from place to place.
Forgetting to pay the application fee on time is one of the more common reasons for plans getting rejected, so make sure to pay the right amount before the deadline.
Again, this can vary based on the type of property you are trying to develop, so reach out to your local authorities beforehand to establish the cost otherwise, you could inadvertently halt the project before it gets underway.
