Apply for planning permission

This protocol is to support the expedient processing of householder applications and sets out the process and standards applicants of householder applications should expect and aligns with our Planning Protocol Delivering growth, working together. 

The expectation is that planning applications, including retrospective applications, are compliant with relevant Leeds Development Plan policies, for householder applications this is the Householder Design Guide. Where applications comply with relevant policies, the planning case officer will recommend an approval.

Where proposals are unacceptable in principle, are found to lack important basic information or would need to be significantly amended or re-designed to comply with our planning policies and supplementary planning guidance, then planning permission will normally be refused without any negotiation or communication. The pre-application advice service should be used for guidance on revised proposals prior to any resubmission.

Where applications require minor amendments for them to be acceptable, the applicant or agent will be contacted in writing, with the changes that are required and deadline for submission (date when revised plans should be received, or when the application should be withdrawn to avoid a decision). A revised plan form is required to be completed and returned. Attention will also be drawn to the next steps depending on the applicant’s response:

• should the applicant not wish to make the changes, or if revised plans are not received by the deadline, the application will be determined based on the original submission
• if revised plans are submitted by the deadline, the application will be determined on those revised plans even where they do not reflect officer advice

There will only be this single opportunity to send in revised plans which reflect the officer’s advice. Note, after this point no further communication or negotiations will be entered into regarding the detail of the application. Where revised plans are submitted that reflect the changes or make changes which are equally acceptable, a recommendation of approval will be made.

Retrospective applications will be subject to the same process as set out above.

Following a decision, we will be unable to communicate with you further on this application. For further discussions about the development, make a pre application enquiry. Public Access should be used to track the progress of an application; the planning case officer will not routinely provide a written or verbal update. 

This protocol reflects national planning policy which states that decisions on applications should be made as quickly as possible and that local planning authorities should approach decisions on proposed development in a positive and creative way using the range of planning tools available. Where schemes are unacceptable and the decision is made the pre-application service will be offered to discuss alternative schemes, but no further communication or negotiations will be entered into regarding the refused application itself.

This protocol is to support the timely processing of Minor and Other types of planning applications and sets out the process and standards applicants should expect. It aligns with our joint Planning Protocol with the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Delivering Growth, Working Together. There is a separate protocol specifically for Householder applications.

The starting point is that applications will be decided in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where they are acceptable, the case officer will recommend approval the earliest opportunity.

With agreement of the authority, an application may be amended after it has been submitted. However, the Development Management service works in accordance with the following working practices unless we believe that there are exceptional circumstances that justify a different approach to a particular application; entering into negotiation on applications only on an exceptional basis at the discretion of the case officer, and only on minor changes that do not require further publicity or significantly alter the submitted scheme.

The service will ordinarily not negotiate on applications where:

• a proposal is unacceptable in principle
• further marketing, ecology or other surveys taking an extended period to complete are required
• in our opinion the amendment required would result in a fundamentally different proposal
• a proposal is not acceptable on submission and is not in accordance with pre-application advice

Where an application requires amendments for it to be acceptable, the case officer will contact the applicant in writing and describe where the changes or clarifications are required and by when (a specified date by which revised plans or further information should be received, or by when the application should be withdrawn to avoid a decision). A revised plan form will also need to be completed and returned. Attention will also be drawn to the next steps depending on the applicant’s response:

Where revised plans are submitted that reflect the changes or make changes which are equally acceptable, a recommendation of approval will be made.

• should the applicant not wish to make the changes, or if revised plans are not submitted by the specified date, the application will be determined based on the original submission. If revised plans are submitted by the specified date but they do not reflect officer advice, the application will still be determined based on those revised plans
• there will only be this single opportunity to send in revised plans which reflect the officer’s advice. Note, after this point no further communication or negotiations will be entered into regarding the detail of the application, except as part of a subsequent pre-application submission

Pre-application enquiries

Applicants and agents are strongly advised to submit a pre-application enquiry if advice on a scheme is required and to ascertain the likelihood of officer support for a formal application.

Apply for extensions to houses, bungalows, garages or other developments in the garden of a house (but not a flat) online using the Planning Portal.

Your planning application will only be approved if it is in line with the Householder Design Guide (PDF 64KB).

You should receive planning permission within eight weeks and you wouldn't need to contact us during this time. We will contact you in writing to let you know if any changes are needed and provide a new deadline for revised plans. 

If your revised plans do not follow the advice given, this could mean your application will be refused and you will not be able to send further revisions. 

For large single storey extensions which are permitted development (for example, don't need full planning permission), you will need to notify us through the prior approvals process instead.

Some adverts will need a formal advertisement consent. Apply for permission to erect or display a sign, notice or advertisement online through the Planning Portal.

Find out what supporting information to include with an advertisement consent application.

Deemed consent

Some adverts don't need consent, which is known as Deemed Consent. It is subject to certain restrictions that normally relate to:

• the number or locations of adverts or signs permitted
• size of the display
• its height above ground
• the size of any lettering
• whether or not it is illuminated

There are additional restrictions in areas designated as an Area of Special Control of Advertisements and in Conservation Areas.

For guidance and application forms for working on protected trees, see our Tree works and preservation page.

For guidance and to apply to remove a protected hedgerow, see our Protected countryside hedgerows page.

Find out what supporting information to include with a planning application involving a listed building.