Applications we handle
- Householder planning applications for extensions and alterations
- Lawful development certificates confirming permitted development
- Prior approval applications for larger single storey rear extensions
- Full planning applications for new dwellings and commercial work
- Change of use applications
- Discharge of conditions and non-material amendments
How we approach planning
The best way to win planning is to design with policy in mind from the very beginning. We review the planning history of your property and street, the council's design guidance and any constraints such as conservation areas, listed buildings, tree preservation orders, flood zones or the South Downs National Park.
We then shape the scheme so it addresses the issues an officer is likely to raise. Where a proposal is borderline, we explain the risks honestly so you can make an informed choice.
During the application
Once submitted, the council validates the application, consults neighbours and statutory bodies and assesses the proposal. We monitor progress, respond to queries from the case officer and, where it helps, negotiate small amendments to keep the application on track rather than risk a refusal.
Councils we work with
We regularly deal with Fareham, Winchester, Eastleigh, Southampton, Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant, East Hampshire, Test Valley and Basingstoke and Deane councils, as well as Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority. Every authority has its own validation requirements and design guides, and knowing them helps applications go in right first time.
Planning application drawings
A householder planning application is only validated when the council has the drawings it needs. The exact list varies between authorities, but a typical submission includes:
- A location plan showing the property in its wider setting, with the site edged in red
- A block plan or site plan showing the house, boundaries and the proposed work
- Existing floor plans and elevations
- Proposed floor plans and elevations
- Roof plans and sections where the design needs them
We prepare all of these as part of the application. If you are budgeting for the project, our guide to what planning and building regulations drawings cost explains what affects the price.
Planning drawings that tell the story
Good planning permission drawings show the council exactly what is proposed and how it relates to the house and its neighbours: existing and proposed floor plans, elevations, a site plan and a location plan, with roof plans and sections where needed. Clear drawings reduce questions from the case officer and help an application move smoothly. Our guide on how long planning permission takes explains the stages, and our guide to lawful development certificates covers projects that may not need a full application.
We work across Hampshire, roughly 40 miles around our Whiteley office, with occasional projects in London. See the areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a planning application take?
Householder applications have a statutory target of eight weeks from validation. Larger or more complex applications can take longer.
What happens if planning is refused?
We will review the reasons for refusal with you. Often a revised scheme can address the concerns, or in some cases an appeal may be appropriate.
What drawings are in a planning application?
Typically a location plan, a site plan, existing and proposed floor plans and elevations, and roof plans or sections where the design needs them.
Can you apply for a lawful development certificate instead?
Yes. If the work falls within permitted development, a lawful development certificate confirms that formally, and we can prepare and submit it.