Making an online planning application

Once you have submitted your application, there are actions you can take if you need to make changes before it is determined by the Local Planning Authority (LPA). 

Changes can be made to any section of the application, including the site location boundary, questions answered, details supplied, supporting plans/documents uploaded, and if already received, the calculated fee. 

Please note that you cannot make an amendment to change the type of application (e.g. from householder to full). To do this you will need to start a new application, either from scratch or by copying an existing one. 

The required actions will depend on the status of the application. 

Submitted to LPA 

You have submitted your application, but the LPA has not yet downloaded it. 

In this status, you can ‘Retract’ the application to make changes to the information entered or files uploaded. This removes the LPA’s access to your application until you choose to resubmit it. 

To do this you should select your application, and then use the ‘Retract application’ button in the panel at the top of the overview screen. 

Retracted applications retain the fee and payment from the original submission, and no further payment will be required when you resubmit it. 

Received by LPA 

The LPA have already downloaded your application, so it cannot be retracted. 

In this status, you will need to create a new version of the application, make the necessary changes, and resubmit it. The original version will remain with the LPA and not be withdrawn. 

To do this you should select your application, and then use the ‘Amend application’ button in the panel at the top of the overview screen. 

If your application has been withdrawn, or has already been determined by the LPA please do not amend it – In this situation any changes must be submitted as a new application, this can be done using the ‘Copy application’ function to save starting from scratch. 

It is always advisable to check the progress of your application with the LPA to ensure that an amendment will be accepted by them. 

For minor changes to determined applications, you may wish to submit an application for a ‘non-material amendment’. Again, this should be checked with the LPA to ensure it will be accepted. 

Application fees and payments 

Retracted applications retain the fee and payment from the original submission, and no further payment will be required when you resubmit it. 

Amended applications will only require an additional payment if the calculated planning fee increases due to the changes made. If the planning fee increases by more than £60 the payment will incur an additional service charge of £58.33 +VAT. 

If the calculated fee is reduced as a result of the changes made then, once resubmitted, you should contact the LPA to discuss any refund you are due. 

If you need to submit a completely new application, then a fee will be due. In some cases, you may be able to claim an exemption based on the application being a revised version of a previous submission.