Validation
Validation is the start of the process of considering a planning application. Our central validation team (CVT) receives all applications submitted to Shropshire Council whether these are submitted electronically via the planning portal or by post.
The preferred method of submission is electronically through the planning portal and for customers this is the cheapest way to submit an application as it removes the need to submit costly and multiple copies of paper documents.
Applications are typically validated within 3-5 working days. If information to validate an application is not provided by the applicant, this will be requested by CVT to be submitted within 21 days of the request. If the validation requirements are not subsequently submitted the application will be returned as invalid (statutory fee regulations will still apply).
National Requirements
Statutory information is required to support all planning applications, these are known as the national requirements and all applications must contain the relevant documents from the national list in order to be validated. They include:-
- The Application Forms
- Location Plan
- Site and Other Plans
- The Application Fee (where required)
- Ownership certificate & Notices
- Agricultural Holdings Certificate
- Design & Access Statement (where required)
Our approach is to validate applications on the national requirements together with any information identified as necessary during pre-application discussions. Submitting an application using a combination of the national requirements and those identified as part of the pre-application advice process (see below) will assist the determination process as it provides key information to statutory planning consultees and others with an interest in a planning application. It therefore helps us to provide you with a quicker service and removes the need to contact you for additional documents and plans at a later date.
Plan/Drawing Requirements
All plans submitted should be of a quality which allows the proposed development to be understood by anyone interested in the application, which includes: the professional planning officers at the Council, elected members, Parish Councils, statutory consultees and members of the public who are interested in the application.
All plans should contain the following information:
- A reference number unique to that drawing along with a version number if the drawing is subsequently amended
- An indication of the scale of the drawing (eg: 1:100, 1:200)
- A scale bar appropriate to the drawing scale, or alternatively dimensions should be stated on the drawing
- Where a document contains drawings of different scales, a separate scale bar should be included for each applicable scale used, or dimensions should be stated on each individual drawing
- The paper size which the drawing should be printed at
Please note that all drawings will be scanned and displayed on-line on the Council’s website. Please ensure drawings are of a sufficient quality and that their clarity is such that they are capable of being scanned and displayed electronically. Drawings with faint lines or low contrast do not usually display well once scanned.
Site Location Plans
It is a requirement that each submitted application includes two copies of a site location plan and a block plan, drawn to an appropriate scale (usually 1:1250 or 1:2500 for location plans and 1:500 for block plans) which should be sufficient to clearly identify the location of the development site. Each plan should show the development site edged in red, and any other land within the applicant’s ownership edged in blue. (please note that for electronically submitted plans, only one copy is needed)
Further information on where to obtain copies of the relevant plans is available in the ‘Site Location Plans’ link on this page. Alternatively, plans can be obtained from the planning portal by clicking the 'Planning Portal - Site Location Plans' link on this page
The planning portal also provide a best practice guidance note relating to the submission which can also be found at the bottom of this page.
Design and Access Statements
It is a requirement that all planning and listed building applications (with the exception of those listed below) should be accompanied by a design and access statement. Applications exempt from the requirement of a design and access statement include:-
- Householder development (except where the dwelling falls within conservation areas or areas of outstanding natural beauty, or is a listed building)
- Change of use (where no material changes are proposed)
- Advertisement
The purpose of a design and access statement is to explain the design principles and ideas that have been considered for the proposed development, and how issues relating to access to the development have been dealt with. Further information can be found by clicking on the 'design and access statement guidance' link on this page.
Will Any Further Information Be Required?
Yes, in addition to the national requirements in most cases further information may be required to explain the impacts of the proposal, these are known as local list requirements and are contained in the Council’s validation checklist at the bottom of this web page. This is information that will be required before a decision is made on your planning application.
The validation checklist document provides an indication of the information requirements that might also be required depending on the type and location of application you are making.
The checklist provides links to further guidance and standing advice that explains when and where additional information may be required. We strongly recommend you consult these prior to submission to make sure you are aware of these requirements to give your application the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
Revised Validation Checklist Document
The Council has recently completed a 90 consultation on a revised validation checklist document and approach to validation. The revised process and validation requirements can be found in the Approved Validation Checklist document on this page.
The changes made to the List of Local Validation Requirements are intended to reduce ambiguity about what information is required to make a planning application valid and to ensure that the Local Planning Authority has sufficient information to confidently determine planning applications. Making the requirements clear and detailed from the outset will help the Council provide a fast and efficient service.
Can I get more detailed advice about my application?
Yes, we offer a pre-application advice service. This enhanced service is available for a fee and provides the following additional benefits:-
- An understanding of how national and local guidance and policies will be applied to your development, i.e. affordable housing contributions, community infrastructure levy (CIL) sustainable design, flood risk and drainage
- Potential for reducing the time your professional advisors spend in developing the proposals
- An indication of those proposals that are completely unacceptable, so saving you the cost of pursuing a formal application
- Written confirmation of the advice given to you at the pre-application stage
- Advice that is consistent, reliable and up to date and tailored to the specific development
- Comprehensive information on what you need in order for your application to be validated and considered by the authority
Further details on the pre-application advice service can be found following the link below.
Our service to you
- We fully support application submissions via the National Planning Portal and we allow applicant to submit and pay for their applications through this service
- We will provide details through our website to help identify information requirements to support planning applications prior to determination, these are included in the validation checklist
- We will provide an enhanced pre-application advice service for which an additional fee is payable
- We will endeavour wherever possible to communicate with you electronically via email to make the process quicker and more streamlined, we may send you electronic documents as a result
- We will validate your application within 3-5 working days of receipt
- We will validate on national requirements together with any information identified during pre-application discussions
- If further information is required for determination purposes our central validation team will request this in writing allowing 21 days for receipt