Getting your planning application right first time
Contents |
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 Of those, 50,000 applications were not approved and 35,000 were withdrawn, which is a lot of time and effort wasted.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.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.