Planning Portal

Revision as of 11:57, 20 February 2014

Launched in 2002, the Planning Portal is a one-stop-shop for advice and guidance on planning applications, building regulations and planning appeals in England and Wales. It is intended to ensure that the planning system can be swiftly and efficiently navigated.

The Planning Portal is the official electronic source of building regulations approved documents, it facilitates the electronic submission of planning applications to local authorities and is the only route for the electronic submission of planning appeals. It hosts large quantities of data on the construction industry and future developments and supplies answers, services and information to home owners, businesses, planning professionals and government officials.

The Planning Portal is delivered by the Department of Communities and Local Government. Its team includes civil servants, private sector specialists, consultants, IT experts and creative staff. All planning authorities are linked to the Portal, supported by regional account managers.

The following text is based on a Planning Portal information pack for local planning authorities issued in February 2014.

The simplest way to submit a planning application is online via the Planning Portal. Apply.

Registration is easy and you can complete your application form, upload supporting documents and pay fees online.

The benefits of applying online include:

• You can work on your applications in draft before submission.
• Immediate delivery and acknowledgement.
• Savings on postage and printing costs.
• Online help function when completing applications.
• Online record of your completed applications.

If you prefer you can complete your application form online and submit supporting documents and fees by post.

The Planning Portal has a great deal of information covering a wide range of common household projects. The guidance covers both planning permission and building regulations rules:

• Extensions.
• Conservatories.
• Garage conversions.
• Outbuildings.
• Loft conversion.
• Wind turbines.
• Windows.
• Patio and driveways.
• Porches.
• Planning appeal.

Explore the Planning Portal's Interactive House for guidance on permitted development and many common householder projects. Or see the interactive terrace house, which is more representative of an urban street scene.

In 2013, the Planning Portal stated that it had more than a million visits each month, received around 320,000 planning applications a year and that around 70% of all planning applications in England and Wales went through the Portal. This figure is expected to increase to 80% in 2014 to 2015.

In 2013, the government announced that it was seeking bids and innovative ideas, to help identify future models for running the Planning Portal, suggesting that it had always envisaged ‘…that the portal would reach a stage where it would function more effectively outside government’ and stating that it was now looking for a partner to take over the cost of running the business and to bring in appropriate investment.

NB The National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) website is ‘the home of the National Planning Policy Framework for England and supporting national planning practice guidance’. See National Planning Practice Guidance for more information.

Find out more

Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• National Planning Practice Guidance.
• Planning permission.

External references

• Gov.uk, A new era for the Planning Portal website 1 August 2013.
• Planning Portal.