The planning application process: from brief to decision

Most planning applications are decided within eight weeks, although larger or more complex applications can take longer and a different period can be agreed. The council timetable is separate from the time spent preparing drawings and assembling the submission. [1]

We first agree the brief, obtain suitable existing-property information and prepare the drawings within the quoted scope. You review the design before the application is submitted. Supporting reports or statements may need separate preparation.

The authority checks whether the application includes the required information before assessing it. Requests for missing material should be dealt with clearly. During assessment, we handle the correspondence included in our appointment and discuss material changes with you.

A decision is not simply a yes or no. An approval may carry conditions with specific triggers. A refusal needs to be read alongside the officer’s reasoning before choosing a redesign or another route. Keep all final documents together and agree what the next professional stage includes.

Requirements depend on the property and the work proposed. For project-specific advice, the relevant drawings, site information and professional scope need to be considered together.

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