Planning permission for household applications

Once you have read this page you may also want to read our guide to extending or improving your home.

What do I have to provide? 

Download a checklist for applications, complete it, and send it in with your application.

To avoid delays in processing your planning application it is important that you must provide the following: 

• Application Form, including Ownership Certificate
• Location Plan at a scale of 1:1250 must be submitted ideally scaled to fit onto A4 or A3 paper. A North point must be shown and must identify sufficient roads and/or buildings on land adjoining the application site to ensure that the exact location of the application site is clear.    The location plan must identify the application site with  a red outline, and this must include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development – for example, land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and the garden of a property.  Where other land owned by the applicant is close to or adjoins the application site this should be identified with a blue line.  
• Site Plan.  All applications must include an existing and proposed site plan based on an up-to-date map and at an identified standard metric scale (typically1:100 or 1:200) .  The site plan(s) must show the direction north along with the proposed footprint of the development within the context of all existing buildings falling within 10 metres of the development. The site plans should also provide written dimensions and distances from the elevations of the proposed development to both: i) The existing site boundaries and ii) The existing buildings falling within 10 metres of the development.   An example of best practice:  existing and proposed.

The following information should also be shown, unless these would not influence or be affected by the proposed development:  

• All the buildings, roads and footpaths on land adjoining the site including access arrangements;  
• All public rights of way crossing or adjoining the site;  
• The position of all existing trees on the site (including the canopy), and those on adjacent land;  
• The extent and type of any hard surfacing;  
• Boundary treatment including the type and height of walls or fencing.  

• Elevations.    Existing and proposed elevations must be submitted for an application involving new development and/or where existing buildings are altered by the proposed development. All elevations must be provided including any blank elevations unless visibility is completely obscured e.g. attached to another building. Elevations must be submitted at the acceptable metric scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and clearly labelled North, East, South and West etc.  Proposed building materials and the style, material and finish of windows and doors should be indicated. Existing and proposed elevations must match relevant floor plans. Where a proposed elevation adjoins/is near another building the relationship between the two buildings should be shown and detail the position of any openings in each property.      
• Floor Plans.  Existing and proposed floor plans must be submitted for an application involving new development and/or where existing buildings are altered by the proposed development. If you are planning to demolish walls or buildings these should be shown on the plans. Floor plans must be submitted at the acceptable metric scale of 1:50 or 1:100 and indicate a north point.  Existing and proposed floor plans must match relevant elevations.      
• Roof Plans.  Existing and proposed roof plans should be provided for proposals involving the creation, alteration or replacement roof design. Roof plans must be provided at the acceptable metric scale of 1:50 or 1:100        An example of best practice:  existing and proposed.
• The fee.  See the full list of fees for different types of planning permission. There is a flat rate service charge of £64 inc. VAT for submitting online planning applications that attract a fee of £60 or more.

• Please note new fee regulations come into effect from the 6th December.  Therefore any applications which are validated from on or after the 6th December will be subject to the new (higher) fee level. This includes any applications received before the 6th but not valid until after the 6th.

In addition, you may also need to submit the following, depending on the site location:   

• Flood Risk Assessment if you are in a flood risk area (zones 2 or 3),
• Tree Survey if a protected tree is likely to be affected by the development, 
• Bat Survey where development could disturb a potential bat roost.

Read: 10 tips to avoid your application being delayed  

Fees and how to pay

Please note new fee regulations come into effect from the 6th December.  Therefore any applications which are validated from on or after the 6th December will be subject to the new (higher) fee level. This includes any applications received before the 6th but not valid until after the 6th.

See the full list of fees for different types of planning permission.  The Planning Portal will take your payment as part of the submission. There is a flat rate service charge of £64 inc. VAT for submitting online planning applications that attract a fee of £60 or more.

How to submit a planning application 

We recommend that you submit your planning application using the Planning Portal. 

Apply via Planning Portal

Read the Planning Portal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

If you require help, you can:

• phone the Planning Portal on  0333 323 4589 (9am to 5pm)
• email support@planningportal.co.uk 

The benefits of using the Planning Portal are:  

• Your application will be sent to Newcastle City Council on the same day 
• You will receive instant email notification on receipt of electronic applications 
• It speeds up the process 
• You will pay online through a secure website 
• It's paperless
• There's online guidance to help you make your application 
• There are useful tools to help you, like volume and fee calculators 
• There's a mapping service, so you can create a site location plan 

The information provided on the application form, drawings and documents will be available on the internet. Please read our Privacy Notice which sets out how we use information.

Other ways to apply and pay

We encourage you to submit your application online through the Planning Portal  to help speed up the process.  

There are alternative ways to fill in application forms here.

pay online or by phone here if not paying on the Planning Portal   

What happens next?  

When you submit your Planning Application via the Planning Portal you will receive an email notification that this has been received. This means Newcastle City Council have your application and can start to check it.

Work will then begin on checking that your application and the information you have submitted meets the national and local requirements.

If your application does not contain all the necessary information you will receive a letter outlining what is required to be submitted.

You will have 28 calendar days to provide the necessary information. Your application will not be progressed until all information has been submitted and it has been confirmed it meets all the requirements. If you do not provide this information within the time period, your application fee will be refunded and you will be required to submit a new application. It is your responsibility to provide this information.

If your application meets the requirements, we will send you a letter confirming this.  

Consultation will then take place, and your application will be passed to a Case Officer. They will assess whether or not planning permission should be granted.  The details of the Case Officer can be found in the acknowledgement letter you receive, if you wish to contact them directly.

We aim to determine the application within 8 weeks of the application being accepted.

We strongly advise that you do not start work until you get a decision on the application.  

Here is our Step-by-Step guide to Planning to help you through the process.   

If your application is refused 

If an application is refused, you have a right of appeal through the Planning Inspectorate. However we would recommend that you contact us prior to lodging your appeal. Some problems can be solved through minor changes to proposals.

Appeals are lodged with the Planning Inspectorate and not with Newcastle City Council. You can submit your appeal online (external link). Appeals are considered by a Planning Inspector and most are conducted through writing.

Find out more information on planning appeals.