Getting your planning application right first time

Getting your planning application right first time

Local planning authorities are responsible for approving plans to change or develop on land or buildings in the United Kingdom.

In 2013, over 500,000 planning applications were submitted. Of those, 50,000 applications were not approved and 35,000 were withdrawn, which is a lot of time and effort wasted.

Collating the supporting documentation for a planning application can be very time consuming, but there are mapping and planning tools online that can help you get your planning application approved first time.

.Map by Groundsure’s mapping and planning tool provides you with a quick and easy way of ordering planning maps and reports on any browser, but it also adds something extra by sending free alerts about key planning environmental risks or precedent information that may prevent a planning application from being approved, such as local authority information, electricity pylons and telecommunication masts.

Here’s a quick 5 step guide to follow to see how these alerts work:

1) Register online for free with .Map By Groundsure

2) Locate your proposed planning site simply by entering the address

3) Explore the planning precedent flags

Click on the red planning precedent icon on the left of your map and you will see a summary of the planning precedent history with the ability to quickly add relevant reports to your basket, with the option to download a sample.

4) Spot any environmental risks

Click on the red environmental risk icon on the left of your map and you will see a summary of the environmental risks, such as flooding risk, ground stability fracking potential and radon action levels, with the ability to quickly add relevant reports to your basket, or download a sample.

5) Revise your planning application

Not taking the precedent information and environmental risks into account is a common error, and with this knowledge your planning application is more likely to be approved.