What Drawings Do I Need for a Planning Application?

Most planning applications need drawings. The exact drawings depend on the type of project, the property and the local council’s validation requirements.

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As a minimum, GOV.UK says a planning application needs a location plan showing the application site in relation to the surrounding area.

In most cases, additional plans and drawings are also needed to describe the proposed development properly. Drawings should be to an identified scale, and plans should show north.

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For homeowners, this usually means a planning drawing package that clearly shows:

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• What the property looks like now

• What changes are proposed

• Where the work sits on the site

• How the proposal relates to neighbouring properties

• How the proposal looks from the outside

• Whether the work affects roofs, boundaries, access, parking or levels

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At Planning Application Services (PAS), we prepare clear planning drawings for homeowners, property owners and small developers across a wide range of project types.

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The quick answer

 

For many householder planning applications, you may need:

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• Site location plan

• Block plan or site plan

• Existing floor plans

• Proposed floor plans

• Existing elevations

• Proposed elevations

• Existing roof plan, where relevant

• Proposed roof plan, where relevant

• Sections, where the design or levels need explaining

• Street scene or context drawing, where the external impact needs showing

• Detail drawings, where a specific design element needs clarification

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The Planning Portal confirms that plans and drawings are required with most application types and that the drawings needed vary depending on the work. Its listed drawing types include site/block plans, elevations, floor plans, roof plans, section drawings, site levels plans, location plans and street scene/context plans.

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IMPORTANT POINT
Not every project needs every drawing. A simple rear extension may need a smaller drawing set than a new build, flat conversion, listed building project or change of use application.

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The main drawings used for planning applications:
 

1. Site location plan

A site location plan shows where the property is.

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It usually shows:

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• The application site in relation to surrounding roads and buildings

• The full site boundary edged in red

• Any other nearby land owned by the applicant edged in blue

• A north point

• An up-to-date map base

• Enough surrounding detail for the council to identify the site

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Location plans are typically prepared at 1:1250 or 1:2500, depending on the site and map scale. GOV.UK and the Planning Portal both describe the usual requirement for an up-to-date location plan with the site outlined in red and any other nearby ownership outlined in blue.

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2. Block plan or site plan

A block plan, sometimes called a site plan, shows the proposal in relation to the property boundaries.

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It may show:

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• The existing building

• The proposed extension or alteration

• Site boundaries

• Garden areas

• Driveways

• Paths

• Parking spaces

• Boundary walls, fences or gates

• Nearby buildings

• Trees where relevant

• Access from the highway

• Hardstanding and drainage areas where relevant

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The Planning Portal says most planning applications need a location plan and a site plan, with site plans often submitted at 1:200 or 1:500.

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3. Existing floor plans

Existing floor plans show the current layout of the property.

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They usually show:

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• Existing rooms

• Existing walls

• Existing doors and windows

• Existing stairs

• Existing openings

• Existing garages, outbuildings or attached structures

• The part of the property affected by the proposal

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Existing plans help the council understand the starting point.

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They are especially useful for:

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• Extensions

• Loft conversions

• Garage conversions

• Change of use projects

• Flat conversions

• HMOs

• Internal layout changes linked to external alterations

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4. Proposed floor plans

Proposed floor plans show the new layout after the work is complete.

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They may show:

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• New walls

• Removed walls

• New rooms

• New doors and windows

• New stairs

• New openings

• New extensions

• New bathrooms, kitchens or utility areas

• The relationship between existing and new spaces

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Proposed floor plans need to be clear, scaled and consistent with the proposed elevations and roof plans.

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TOP TIP
Floor plans are not just for the council. They also help homeowners, builders, structural engineers and building control understand the design properly.

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5. Existing elevations

Existing elevations show what the outside of the property currently looks like.

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They usually include the affected sides of the building, such as:

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• Front elevation

• Rear elevation

• Side elevation

• Street-facing elevation

• Roof slope affected by the proposal

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Existing elevations are important because they show the council what is changing.

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They may show:

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• Windows

• Doors

• Roof shape

• Chimneys

• External materials

• Existing extensions

• Ground levels where relevant

• Boundary relationship where relevant

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6. Proposed elevations

Proposed elevations show what the outside of the property will look like after the work.

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They may show:

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• New windows and doors

• New roof forms

• New dormers

• Extensions

• Porches

• External wall finishes

• Cladding or render

• Rooflights

• Balconies or Juliet balconies

• Boundary treatments

• Changes to garage doors

• Changes to shopfronts or frontages

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Proposed elevations are often one of the most important parts of a planning application because they show design, appearance and neighbour impact.

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7. Roof plans

 

Roof plans are useful where the roof is affected.

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They may be needed for:

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• Loft conversions

• Dormers

• Mansard roofs

• Hip-to-gable conversions

• Roof terraces

• Rooflights

• Extensions with complex roof forms

• Flat roof extensions

• Solar panels

• New buildings

• Large outbuildings

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A roof plan can help show:

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• Roof shape

• Ridge lines

• Valleys

• Rooflights

• Dormers

• Flat roof areas

• Parapets

• Drainage falls

• Relationship to neighbouring roofs

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Camden’s planning guidance lists roof plans as one of the common scale drawing types used in planning applications.

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8. Sections

Sections cut through the building to show height, levels and internal relationships.

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Sections may be needed where the proposal involves:

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• Sloping sites

• Split-level homes

• Loft conversions

• Basement works

• Raised decking

• Roof terraces

• Dormers

• New staircases

• Changes in floor level

• Complex extensions

• New builds

• Outbuildings close to boundaries

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Sections can help explain things that are difficult to understand from floor plans and elevations alone.

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9. Street scene or context drawings

A street scene drawing may be useful where the council needs to understand how the proposal sits in the wider street.

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This can be helpful for:

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• Front extensions

• New houses

• Infill plots

• Roof extensions

• Mansards

• Shopfront changes

• Boundary walls and gates

• Conservation area projects

• Developments that affect the character of the road

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A street scene drawing may show the neighbouring houses and the proposal together so the height, scale and appearance can be understood.

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10. Detail drawings

Detail drawings may be needed where a specific element needs closer explanation.

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These can include:

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• Window details

• Door details

• Roof edge details

• Balconies

• Privacy screens

• Railings

• Boundary walls

• Gates

• Shopfronts

• Heritage features

• Listed building details

• Materials and junctions

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They are more common on sensitive sites, listed buildings, conservation area projects and proposals where design detail matters.

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Drawings for common homeowner projects:

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House extensions

 

A typical extension planning package may include:

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• Site location plan

• Block plan

• Existing floor plans

• Proposed floor plans

• Existing elevations

• Proposed elevations

• Roof plan if the roof design needs showing

• Section if levels or height need explaining

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This may apply to:

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• Rear extensions

• Side extensions

• Wraparound extensions

• Double-storey extensions

• First-floor extensions

• Front extensions

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Loft conversions

 

A loft conversion planning package may include:

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• Site location plan

• Block plan

• Existing floor plans

• Proposed floor plans

• Existing elevations

• Proposed elevations

• Existing roof plan

• Proposed roof plan

• Sections through the loft

• Street scene drawing where front or roof impact matters

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This is especially important for:

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• Dormers

• Mansard roofs

• Hip-to-gable conversions

• Roof terraces

• Front roof alterations

• Conservation area projects

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Garage conversions

 

A garage conversion may need drawings showing:

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• Existing floor plan

• Proposed floor plan

• Existing front elevation

• Proposed front elevation

• Changes to the garage door

• New windows or doors

• Parking layout where relevant

• Site plan if external access or parking is affected

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This is particularly important where the garage door is being removed and replaced with a wall, window or new frontage.

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Garden rooms and outbuildings

 

A garden building planning package may include:

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• Site location plan

• Block plan

• Proposed floor plan

• Proposed elevations

• Roof plan where useful

• Section where height or boundary relationship needs explaining

• Site levels if the ground slopes

• Details of use, materials and distance from boundaries

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This may apply to:

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• Garden rooms

• Home offices

• Outbuildings

• Annexes

• Studios

• Workshops

• Larger sheds

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Change of use, HMOs and flat conversions

 

Change of use applications often need drawings that explain both layout and use.

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These may include:

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• Existing floor plans

• Proposed floor plans

• Room layouts

• Bedroom sizes where relevant

• Kitchen, bathroom and shared space layouts

• Access arrangements

• Cycle storage

• Bin storage

• Parking layout

• Existing and proposed elevations if external changes are involved

• Fire escape or management layouts where relevant

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The exact drawing requirement depends on the use, the council and the planning issue.

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Driveways, gates and boundary changes

 

Applications for driveways, access, gates or boundary treatments may need:

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• Site location plan

• Block plan

• Existing and proposed frontage plan

• Existing and proposed elevations of gates, walls or fences

• Visibility splay drawing where highway safety is relevant

• Hardstanding layout

• Drainage information

• Materials and surface finish details

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Tower Hamlets’ national requirements guidance is a good example of the type of site plan information councils may ask for, including boundaries, access arrangements, trees, hard surfacing and boundary treatments where affected by the proposal.

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Existing and proposed drawings must match

 

A good planning drawing package should be consistent.

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The council should not be left wondering:

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• Which walls are existing

• Which walls are new

• Which parts are being demolished

• Which windows are changing

• How the roof works

• How the extension connects to the house

• Whether the elevations match the floor plans

• Whether the site plan matches the proposal

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Poorly coordinated drawings can lead to:

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• Validation delays

• Planning officer questions

• Neighbour confusion

• Requests for amendments

• Refusal risk

• Problems later with building regulations or builder pricing

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Can I submit simple sketches?

 

Simple sketches may be acceptable for some very minor enquiries or early discussions, but they are usually not enough for a formal planning application.

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For a planning application, drawings normally need to be:

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• Accurate

• Scaled

• Legible

• Clearly labelled

• Based on the correct property

• Consistent across plans and elevations

• Clear about what is existing and what is proposed

• Suitable for validation by the local planning authority

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The Planning Portal states that drawings need to meet required quality standards to be deemed valid.

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Do permitted development projects need drawings?

 

Often, yes.

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Even if a project may fall under permitted development, drawings may still be needed for:

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• A Lawful Development Certificate

• Builder quotations

• Structural calculations

• Building regulations

• Party wall notices

• Leaseholder or freeholder consent

• Accurate project pricing

• Future sale records

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A permitted development project may not need a full planning application, but clear drawings can still protect the homeowner and avoid misunderstandings.

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Planning drawings are not the same as building regulation drawings

 

Planning drawings show what is proposed for planning assessment.

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They usually focus on:

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• Site location

• Size and position

• External appearance

• Roof shape

• Windows and doors

• Relationship to neighbours

• Planning impact

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Building regulation drawings focus on construction and compliance.

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They usually deal with:

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• Foundations

• Structure

• Insulation

• Fire safety

• Drainage

• Ventilation

• Stairs

• Roof build-up

• Floor construction

• Structural calculations

• Construction specification

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IMPORTANT POINT
Planning drawings may get you through planning, but they are not usually enough for building control, structural design or a builder’s final construction price.

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How PAS can help

 

Planning Application Services (PAS) can prepare planning drawings for a wide range of homeowner and small development projects.

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We can help with:

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• Measured surveys

• Existing floor plans

• Existing elevations

• Proposed floor plans

• Proposed elevations

• Roof plans

• Sections

• Site plans

• Planning application drawings

• Lawful Development Certificate drawings

• Retrospective planning drawings

• Change of use layouts

• HMO and flat conversion drawings

• Building regulations drawings where needed

• Structural coordination where needed

• Party wall support where relevant

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PAS works nationwide, including England, Wales and Scotland, and brings more than 40 years of experience in the property sector.

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What we normally need from you

 

To advise on the drawings needed, we usually need:

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• The property address

• A short description of the project

• Any existing drawings you already have

• Photographs of the property

• Your preferred layout or design idea

• Details of any previous planning applications

• Whether the property is listed or in a conservation area, if known

• Whether the project is planning, permitted development, retrospective or building regulations

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From there, PAS can advise what drawing package is likely to be needed.

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Need planning drawings for your project?

 

If you are asking “What drawings do I need for a planning application?”, the best next step is to let PAS review the project before drawings are prepared.

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A proper review can help you understand:

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• Whether planning permission is required

• Whether permitted development may apply

• Whether a Lawful Development Certificate is better

• What drawings are likely to be needed

• Whether the council may ask for extra information

• Whether building regulations drawings may also be required

• Whether structural or party wall matters need to be considered

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Next Steps:

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Tell Us What You Need

Use our enquiry form to tell us about your property and the work you are considering.

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PAS can advise what drawings are likely to be needed and what approval route may be most suitable.

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Planning Consultancy

Choose paid planning consultancy if you need a proper desktop review before committing to drawings or applications.

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This is useful for:

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• New builds

• Property conversions

• Extensions

• Loft conversions

• Garage conversions

• HMOs

• Airbnb use

• Outbuildings

• Retrospective planning issues

• Complex or uncertain planning positions

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Plans and Drawings

PAS can prepare the plans and drawings needed for planning applications, lawful development certificates, building regulations, structural coordination and related approvals.

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Planning Applications

If planning permission is required, PAS can help prepare and submit the application so the proposal is clearly presented to the local planning authority.

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