Putting the application in the right place
A location plan provides the wider geographical reference. It should use current mapping, identify surrounding roads and show a north point and a stated scale. The red outline identifies the application site, while a blue outline normally marks other nearby land owned by the applicant. A postal address alone is not enough where a plot includes shared access, several buildings or land without a street number.
Check that the outline includes the land necessary for the proposal, not just the footprint of the new room. An inaccurate boundary can cause questions at validation even when the building drawings are otherwise clear.
What the block drawing adds
The closer view is commonly called a block plan or site plan. It shows the relationship between the proposed development and its immediate surroundings. Existing buildings, additions, neighbouring structures where relevant, access arrangements and boundary treatments help explain how the scheme fits. Dimensions and the drawing scale allow the application reader to understand distances rather than estimate them from an unlabelled image.
Some proposals also need information about trees, hard surfaces, parking or changes in level. The local validation checklist determines what is relevant; a basic map is not automatically a complete site drawing for every application.
Starting with reliable information
Please gather any deeds plans, earlier approved drawings and information about shared driveways before requesting a quotation. These are useful references, but a planning map does not settle a legal boundary dispute. Where ownership or access rights are uncertain, obtain appropriate legal advice rather than expecting the plan to resolve them.
A measured building survey can establish the geometry of the building and accessible features. Mapping and survey information have different roles: the first locates the land, while the second records the detail needed to draw the proposal accurately.
Existing and proposed versions
An existing site drawing records the arrangement before the work. Its proposed counterpart shows what will change, using consistent orientation and enough surrounding detail for comparison. A replacement garage, altered driveway or side addition should be identifiable without searching through unrelated floor plans. Where removal is proposed, the drawing should make that distinction clear.
Location and block drawings sit alongside plans and elevations rather than replace them. Our planning applications page explains the wider submission, and plans and elevations explains the building views that describe internal layout and external appearance.
Agreeing what is needed
Before ordering mapping or preparing drawings, check the application type and your local planning authority's current requirements. Confirm the drawing scale, required extent, file format and whether both existing and proposed site views are expected. Mapping must also have the appropriate reproduction rights; an image copied from an online map is not necessarily suitable for submission.
For an enquiry, send the address, a short description of the proposed work and any council request for additional information. Explain whether an application is already underway. The required documents and any standalone drawing arrangement can then be discussed without assuming an entire planning package is needed.
We work across Hampshire, roughly 40 miles around our Whiteley office, with occasional projects in London. See the areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is a block plan the same as a floor plan?
No. A block drawing describes buildings within their plot; a floor plan describes the rooms and openings inside a building. Applications may need both because they answer different questions.
Can my title plan replace the application location map?
Not necessarily. A title plan is an ownership reference, while the application needs suitable current mapping, an appropriate scale and clear application boundaries. Check the council requirements before relying on it.
Must the red line follow every ownership boundary?
The red line defines the application land, which is not always identical to the whole ownership. It must include land needed for the development; other relevant land in the same ownership is normally identified separately.
Can I request only a site drawing?
Ask Lee about the address, available information and intended submission first. Standalone supply is subject to confirmation, and the council may require other drawings alongside it.