A Guide to Submitting Planning Applications (National and Local Requirements)

Introduction

These pages set out what information you need to provide to enable South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council, the Local Planning Authority (LPA), to provide an efficient service.

This list and its associated documents form the basis on which planning applications are deemed valid by the LPA.

It is intended to benefit all customers by:

  • Increasing the awareness of the type of information required to ensure an application is accepted first time
  • Promoting the use of pre-application discussions and advice
  • Speeding up the registration process
  • Ensuring consistency in the approach taken by both Councils
  • Increasing the use of electronic delivery
  • Minimising the submission of additional information
  • Avoid delays during the planning process
  • Enabling the Councils to provide applicants with certainty as to the information required

Please be aware some Neighbourhood Plans may have their own requirements. You are advised to check these before submitting your application. You can find out more at our dedicated Neighbourhood Planning website.

Useful guidance is available from Gov.UK.

The information required can be split into two categories:

  1. 1. Mandatory National Requirements (required by The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2018 (DMPO) or other statutory legislation. For example:

    1. The Town and Country Planning and Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2018,
    2. The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 and
    3. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and
    4. on the national standard application forms
  2. 2. Local Requirements (set by the LPA) which are set out on these pages.