This guide will give you information on the different parts of the planning process and what you need to do.
You should find out if you need planning permission before starting any building work. If you go ahead without permission, you may have to put things back to how they were.
You are likely to need planning permission if you want to:
- construct a new building
- alter the external appearance of an existing building
- extend a property
- convert a house into flats
- change the use of a building or land.
The Planning Portal’s guidance on planning permission has an interactive map function you can use to search for common projects.
View our video below to help get with your application.
Step by step guide to planning permissions
Below is a simple step by step guide to help you through the process.
Before you apply for planning permission, make sure you:
- check if you need planning permission
- check for any local planning restrictions
- apply for pre-application advice to speak to a planning officer about your application.
Once you are ready to apply, you can submit a form via the Planning Portal.
Fees for planning applications can be calculated using the Planning Portal’s fees calculator.
Applicants can also use an agent (usually a planning consultant or an architect) to do the application for them.
We put all applications onto our online planning register, where anyone can submit a comment.
Read about how you can view and comment on planning applications.
We take into account all the comments received and consider whether we think the application should be permitted.
Once you have submitted your planning application please read our validation timescales checklists for more information on when a decision will be made.
We check if the proposal meets all relevant national policy and local policies and guidance.
Planning decisions can be made by officers or by Planning Committee. Further information can be found on our delegated planning decisions page.
Applications can be reviewed at one of our 3 Planning Committees:
- Cambridge City Council Planning Committee
- South Cambridgeshire District Council Planning Committee
- Joint Development Control Committee (JDCC) for major applications on sites that cross the city/district boundary.
Members of the public can speak in support or opposition to applications, and these views are taken into account when the councillors make their decisions.
Applicants within the Cambridge City Council area can also request a pre-application presentation to councillors, which is also open to the public.
Visit our amending an application webpage on how to do this. All new information will uploaded to the online planning register.
If we think an application is likely to be refused, we will contact the applicant and allow them to withdraw it.
You can appeal if you disagree with a planning decision on your application. You cannot appeal against someone else’s planning application.
For more information please visit our planning appeals page.
We upload the decision notice to the online planning register shortly after a decision is made. The decision notice will include all conditions that have been applied to the permission.
Some types of development will be required to make developer contributions (sometimes known as section 106 agreements) before planning permission can be granted.
Planning permissions may have conditions attached. These could fall into the following categories:
- actions required within a specific timescale
- actions that must be done before starting work
- actions required before
- other conditions that the development must follow such as ecology or land contamination.
Applications to discharge conditions should be made via the Planning Portal. A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks.
Please use our online form to request confirmation that all conditions have been previously discharged.
Once all of the application conditions are approved, work can start on site. In most cases, works have to begin within 3 years of planning permission being granted.
Building control approval is a separate process and may also be required.
Further details and guidance can be found at the following link Planning Conditions.
If a development is not carried out according to the approved drawings and reports, the applicant will be contacted by our Compliance officers and asked to make the changes required. The applicant may be asked to submit a new application to cover the changes.
If you are concerned about a suspected breach of planning permission, please visit our compliance webpage.