Drawings you need for an extension planning application
A householder planning application in England needs a standard set of scaled drawings. Councils check them before anything else, and missing or unscaled drawings are the most common reason an application is held up as "invalid". Here's the checklist.
Make my drawings freeThe drawings
| Drawing | Usual scale | What it must show |
|---|---|---|
| Location plan | 1:1250 or 1:2500 | An Ordnance Survey based map with the site edged in red (and any other land you own edged blue), at least two named roads and surrounding buildings, and a north point. Buy one from a Planning Portal approved supplier. |
| Block plan (site plan) | 1:500 or 1:200 | The house and extension, the boundaries, distances from the extension to the boundaries, and nearby buildings. |
| Existing and proposed floor plans | 1:100 or 1:50 | Every floor that changes, with room names, walls, doors and windows, and the new work clearly marked. |
| Existing and proposed elevations | 1:100 or 1:50 | Every side of the house that changes, with heights, windows and materials. |
| Roof plans | 1:100 | Where the roof changes. |
| Sections | 1:100 or 1:50 | Where ground levels change or the council asks for them. |
Every drawing should have a scale (and say the paper size, e.g. "1:100 @ A3"), a scale bar, a north point on plans, a drawing number and a title. Don't write "do not scale" on drawings for planning: the council needs to measure from them.
The documents
- Householder application form — online through the Planning Portal or your council.
- Ownership certificate — Certificate A if all the land is yours; Certificate B if any work (foundations, gutters, roof) crosses onto a neighbour's land, and you must notify them.
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) form — most councils ask for it even when no charge is due.
- The fee — check the current householder fee with the Planning Portal fee calculator.
- Design and Access Statement — only required in conservation areas and World Heritage Sites, but a short planning statement helps any application.
After you apply
The council checks the application is valid, consults neighbours, and usually decides within 8 weeks. Planning permission is separate from Building Regulations approval, which you also need — see the building regulations guide.
Make the drawings for free
Extension Plans makes the whole set from your floor plan: an A3 location plan sheet for your OS map, a block plan with boundary distances, existing and proposed plans and elevations, roof plans, a planning statement and a checklist of what to send.
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