Making an Application

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that a planning application is submitted correctly and accompanied by the appropriate details, plans and fee. The Division will strive to ensure that a decision is issued within 8 weeks of the application having been validated.

To make a planning application, it is necessary to complete an application form and a checklist both of which are available for download in the document table at the bottom of this page.

All planning applications must be supported by plans as required by statute and listed under Article 4(1)(a), Schedule 1, of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005. Requirements can be defined as follows:-

site plan* - showing the layout of the site and its boundaries
location plan* - showing the location of the land to be developed in relation to neighbours/streets etc.
all drawings to detail the footprints and elevations as required
the correct fee. An up to date fees schedule is included in the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) Order 2011, which is downloadable from the table at the bottom of this page (PLEASE NOTE the 2011 Fees Order has been replaced by an Order for 2012, applicable from July 1st 2012 - also downloadable at the bottom of this page).
if the building is registered, form RBAP must also be completed. Please see the downloadable documents at the bottom of this page. Also, please see our Registered Buildings page for further information.

*Maps to provide these plans are available from the Department which is the custodian for the Island maps (not Ordnance survey). Please see the Cartographic Section

Four copies of the application form and all supporting documents must be submitted to the Planning Office (in triplicate in the case of replacement windows). One copy is retained by the Department for public scrutiny and another as a working copy. The two remaining copies are sent to the Department of Infrastructure Highway's Division (located at the Sea Terminal) and the relevant Local Authority.

Should the application be incomplete, it will be returned to the applicant or their agent for the missing information to be provided.

A Guide to making a planning application is available to view or download at the bottom of the page. Also, see the Decision and Appeal page, which explains how applications are determined.

In addition to completing the relevant paperwork above, applicants or their agents are required to advertise their application at the site by affixing a Site Notice for a minimum of 21 days, and to furnish a copy of that Notice to the landowner or the occupier/tenant (if not the applicant). These Notices are provided by the Planning Office. Telephone: (01624) 685950. A copy of the Notice will be issued to the relevant Local Authority for their own purposes.

There are separate application forms for:-

Application for Certificate of Lawful Use or Development

Such application is made seeking to regularise use, development or operations which have been conducted in excess of 10 years of a use, and 4 years for development.

An application for a certificate must be supported by whatever evidence the applicant may have to prove lawfulness. The extent of that proof is for the applicant to ascertain. Failure to provide sufficient and conclusive proof will result in the application being declined.

Please be aware that where a certificate may be declined legislation does not allow any appeal against that decision.

For an application form, see the documents table at the bottom of the page.

Application for Express Consent to Erect an Advertisement

An application for expres consent (for the erection/placement of an advertisement) must be submitted by using the form downloadable below. All such applications must be supported by the following:-

site plan - layout of the site and its boundaries
location plan - showing the location of the land to be developed in relation to neighbours/streets etc.
details and dimensions showing the advert/signage intended.

Please note that A Guide to making a planning application, including information on the 3 different types of application detailed on this page, is available in the table below. Additionally, further advice can be obtained by telephoning the Planning Office on (01624) 685950.

Downloadable Documents