1. Find out if you need permission
  2. Apply for planning permission
  3. Other things to consider
  4. What happens next

Apply for planning permission

For your planning application to be valid, it must include:

  • the completed planning application form
  • any relevant supporting documentation (known as validation requirements)
  • plans of the site
  • the correct fee
  • an ownership certificate - you must fill in the relevant part of the application form
  • CIL additional information form

Please ensure all plans:

  • use a standard metric scale (for example 1:100, 1:200)
  • show the direction of north
  • are submitted in PDF format

If you would like advice on your application before you submit it to us, we offer a pre-application advice service.

Planning validation requirements

To avoid any delays with processing your application please include all the required supporting documents.

Any missing information must be provided within two weeks of request unless otherwise agreed in writing. Where all the information is not provided, the application will be returned and refunded, with a fee of £40 per application being retained by us to cover the cost of administering the return.

Use the relevant validation requirements below to see what is required:

Householder (not flats)

Planning (including flats)

Listed building

Tree works

Advertisement consent

Details reserved by a condition

Lawful Development Certificates

Application fees

You can find out how much your application will cost by using the online fee calculator. If you are unsure you can contact us on 01903 737756 or planning@arun.gov.uk

You may also be required to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) if your new floor area exceeds 100sq meters or you are building a new dwelling of any size. You will be notified of the amount and when to pay once planning permission is granted.

You'll need to fill out the CIL Additional Information form [pdf] 368KB even if you do not need to pay.

How to apply

If you are making an application for a site within the South Downs National Park you'll need to make your application directly to them.

You must submit your planning application online using the Planning Portal. You’ll need to register to use this service and they charge a small administration fee for doing so. Once you have registered you can:

  • complete your application form
  • upload the required plans and supporting documents (see validation requirements)
  • pay online

If you fail to include all the relevant information with your application it will be invalid and we’ll need to write to ask you for the missing information.  Your application will not be processed until the missing information is provided. This will cause a delay. 

Apply using the Planning Portal

Forms not available via Planning Portal

There are some types of application that cannot be submitted through the online system. These can be downloaded and the completed forms emailed to planning@arun.gov.uk

The application to discharge or amend planning obligation[docx] 48KB is not available via the Planning Portal and should be completed and emailed to planning@arun.gov.uk

If you need to apply to divert or extinguish a public right of way[docx] 380KB this should be completed and mailed to planning@arun.gov.uk. Please read the S257 guidance notes[docx] 377KB carefully before completing the form.

Amending an application

Before decision

We recommend that you do not submit your application until you have finalised all the relevant information. Your application will be decided based on the information submitted.  It is unlikely that we will allow any changes to be made unless the application is following our pre-application advice and the amendments are minor.

If changes are made it is likely that the planning application will have to be re-advertised and re-consulted on and this will delay the decision.

 

After decision

You can make small changes to your existing planning permission by making an application for a non-material amendment.

non-material amendments that are not acceptable:
  • the proposal would amend the use or intensity of the original planning permission, would result in a change to the description of the application or conflict with any conditions of the permission
  • the application site area (red line) differs from the original application
  • adopted planning policy is breached
  • the planning obligation on the original permission is affected
  • windows are introduced that could potentially permit overlooking of other properties
  • the proposal would result in changes to the external details that would materially alter the appearance of the building
  • amendments that would warrant re-consultation either of neighbours, council departments or statutory bodies
  • the proposal results in an increase in height of the building, of more than 0.3 metres
  • the proposal results in an increase in width/length of more than 1.0 metre
  • the development moves more than 1 metre in any direction

If the change is not a non-material amendment you can either:

Accordion end

You can make an application for removal or variation of a condition under Existing consents on the Planning Portal. You will need to use our Planning (including flats) validation requirements to see what you need to include with your application.

Application for details reserved by a condition

Where it has been necessary to place conditions on a decision due to information missing from your original application, these will need a follow-on application to be decided before you can proceed. It is important that you provide all the information required at the point of making the follow-on application. We will only allow one attempt at amending the application, if time allows, as we must make the decision within 12 weeks as this is the government’s time scale for this kind of application.

You need to apply via the Planning Portal using the button above but first see our validation requirements for details reserved by a condition.

Retrospective planning permission

If you have built something that requires planning permission and you have not had approval, we may ask you to submit a retrospective planning application for the work that you have already carried out. This does not mean that permission will automatically be granted.

If the application is refused we will take formal action immediately after the decision is issued.

To apply for retrospective planning permission go to apply for planning permission. To make sure you send all the required information view the relevant validation requirements.

Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use or development

In some cases where planning permission has not been obtained it may be possible to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use or development.  This will determine whether the use or development is lawful.  Go to apply for planning permission. Please make sure you include all the supporting information shown in the relevant validation requirements.