You will need to send different types of scale drawings and plans with your planning application depending on the type of permission or consent needed.
The information below provides details of various types of permission or consent, such as conservation area and listed building consent. It also outlines the different types of scale drawings and plans that you must send with planning applications.
What scale drawings and plans need to accompany my application?
- Conservation area consent
- Listed building consent
- Lawful Development Certificates - existing use of land, operation or activity
- Lawful Development Certificates – proposed use of land, operation or activity
- Variation of conditions
- Alterations to a previously approved or refused scheme
- Minor material amendments to an approved planning permission
- Non-material amendments to an approved planning permission (not to listed building consent or conservation area consent)
Conservation area consent
Please note that conservation area consent was abolished from 1 October 2013 and is replaced by a requirement for planning permission for the demolition of a building in a conservation area.
Where planning permission for the demolition of a building in a conservation area is required, you will need to accompany your application with existing elevations, plans and sections showing the location and extent of all demolition work (through hatching, labelling or colour coding).
For further advice, please read our Camden Planning Guidance (Conservation areas).
Listed building consent
Where listed building consent is required for your proposed development, you will need to accompany your application with the following drawings and plans:
- existing and proposed internal elevations (at a scale of 1:50) showing the areas affected by the proposed development
- existing and proposed sections showing where any floors, ceilings, staircases or fixtures or fittings will be removed or inserted
- drawings of new or replacement architectural features (at a minimum scale of 1:20)
- for example, any joinery and cornices
- elevations, plans and sections showing the location and extent of any demolition work (through hatching, labelling or colour coding)
For further advice, please read our Camden Planning Guidance (Listed buildings).
Lawful Development Certificates - existing use of land, operation or activity
Where a Lawful Development Certificate is required (for an existing use of land, operation or activity), you will need to accompany your application with elevations, plans and sections (at a scale of 1:100) showing the full extent of any building works that have taken place.
Where your development involved a change of use, you will need to accompany your application with floor plans (at a scale of 1:100) showing the layout and the extent of the existing use. All floor plans should use colour and annotations to help improve clarity (This is particularly important where the existing development comprises a number of different uses)
Lawful Development Certificates – proposed use of land, operation or activity
Where a Lawful Development Certificate is required (for a proposed use of land, operation or activity) you will need to accompany your application with existing and proposed elevations, plans and sections (at a scale of 1:100).
Change of use
Where your proposed development involves a change of use, all floor plans should be annotated to show the extent and mix of proposed uses.
Chimneys, flues, soil and vent pipes
Where your proposed development involves installing, altering or replacing a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe, all scale drawings and plans should be annotated accordingly to provide such confirmation.
Hard standing
Where your proposed development involves laying a hard standing, all scale drawings and plans should be annotated to confirm that the proposed materials to be used will be semi-permeable; or help explain how any rain water will be directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.
For further advice, please read the Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens published by Communities and Local Government.
Materials
With the exception of erecting a conservatory, all scale drawings and plans should describe the existing and proposed materials used. For example, “Existing window: timber framed” or “Proposed window: timber framed”. Please note that the use of the phrase “to match existing” is not adequate as it does not provide enough information.
Roof lights
Where your proposed development involves installing a roof light, all scale drawings and plans should display the distance that the roof light will project from the roof slope.
Roof cladding
Where your proposed development involves cladding a roof, all scale drawings and plans should be annotated accordingly to provide such confirmation.
Dormer windows
Where your proposed development involves installing a dormer window, all scale drawings and plans should display the distance between the eaves of the original roof and the bottom of the dormer window.
Upper floor windows
Where your proposed development involves installing any upper floor windows in a wall or roof slope to the side of the property, all scale drawings and plans should be clearly annotated to confirm:
- whether the windows will be obscure glazed
- whether the windows will open
- the height of the window above the floor of the room in which it will be installed
Verandas, balconies or raised platforms
Where your proposed development involves installing, altering or replacing a veranda, balcony or raised platform, all scale drawings and plans should be annotated accordingly to provide such confirmation.
Variation of conditions
Where you intend to submit a variation on a condition detailed in your planning permission, you will need to accompany your application with the following drawings and plans:
- “as approved” and “as proposed” elevations, plans and sections showing the detail and extent of any differences
- existing elevations, plans and sections, where work has not yet started
You must describe fully and precisely what amendments will be made compared to what has previously been approved. This information can be provided in the form of a schedule of works.
For further advice, please read the Greater flexibility for planning permissions - Guidance published by Communities and Local Government.
Alterations to a previously approved or refused scheme
Where you intend to make alterations to a previously approved or refused scheme, you will need to accompany your application with the following drawings and plans:
- “as approved”/ “as refused” and “as proposed” elevations, plans and sections showing the detail and extent of any differences
- existing elevations, plans and sections, where work has not yet started
You must describe fully and precisely what amendments will be made compared to what has previously been approved or refused. This information can be provided in the form of a schedule of works.
For further advice, please read the Greater flexibility for planning permissions - Guidance published by Communities and Local Government.
Minor material amendments to an approved planning permission
Where you intend to make a minor material amendment to an approved planning permission (including amending implemented permissions or revisions to unimplemented revisions), you will need to accompany your application with the following drawings and plans:
- “as approved” and “as proposed” elevations, plans and sections showing the detail and extent of any differences
- existing elevations, plans and sections, where work has not yet started
You must describe fully and precisely what amendments will be made compared to what has previously been approved. This information can be provided in the form of a schedule of works.
For further advice, please read the Greater flexibility for planning permissions - Guidance published by Communities and Local Government.
Non-material amendments to an approved planning permission (not to listed building consent or conservation area consent)
Where you intend to make non-material amendments to an approved planning permission, you will need to accompany your application with the following drawings and plans:
- “as approved” and “as proposed” elevations, plans and sections showing the detail and extent of any differences
- existing elevations, plans and sections, where work has not yet started
You must describe fully and precisely what amendments will be made compared to what has previously been approved. This information can be provided in the form of a schedule of works.
For further advice, please read the Greater flexibility for planning permissions - Guidance published by Communities and Local Government.
How do I submit scale drawings and plans?
If you apply for planning permission online using the Planning Portal, you will be given the opportunity to upload your scale drawings and plans. This is after you have completed the relevant application forms.
Before uploading any files, please read our guidance notes for submitting electronic files with planning applications (PDF).
If you choose to submit a paper-based application instead, you will need to provide:
- four copies of your scaled drawings and plans
- four copies of the relevant application forms.
Where can I find out further information?
For further information on preparing and submitting scale drawings and plans, please contact the planning advice and information service