Amending your planning application

1. a non material minor amendment
2. a material amendment through the formal variation of the approved application

Read the pdf Guidance Notes (707 KB)  for more information.

a. Non Material Minor Amendment:

What can be handled as a non-material minor amendments?

The Council will in most cases accept the following as minor amendments to previously approved plans:

• Reduction in the volume/size of the building/extension, or all forms of operational/ engineering development that requires planning permission
• Reduction in the height of the building/extension, or all forms of operational/ engineering development that requires planning permission
• Amendments to windows/doors/openings that will not have any impact on neighbouring properties

We could not accept amendments as non-material if (for example):

• The application site area (red line) differs from the original application
• The application description differs from the original application
• The proposal would result in changes to the external details (e.g. facing materials or roof shape) that would materially alter the appearance of the building
• The amendment significantly increases the size of any part of the development
• The development moves more than 1 metre in any direction
• The height of the building or structure is increased
• If the amendment locates any part of the development closer to a neighbour unless the development as amended is in excess of 5 metres from the common boundary with the neighbour
• The amendment results in a fundamental change in the design of the building
• If the amendment changes windows or doors in any elevation facing a neighbour which increases overlooking in any way
• The amendment would result in a greater visual intrusion, loss of light or feeling of enclosure to neighbours
• There were any relevant objections to the original proposal which would be compromised by the proposed minor amendment.

What is the process for applying for non-material minor amendments?

You can apply for a non-material minor amendment through the Planning Portal.

Apply online

pdf Guidance notes (34 KB) are available to help you complete your application.

Useful information

• Fees if the application is a householder;    £43.00
• Fees in any other case;                              £293.00
• No Design and Access Statement is necessary
• Neighbour notification and consultation is discretionary; the Council will not undertake notification and consultation in most cases.
• The application is not for a new permission so it will not be necessary to repeat conditions from the original permission.
• Conditions on the original application cannot be varied or removed through this process.
• If the amendment is such that a new condition is necessary, then it cannot be a non-material amendment and a fresh
• application or a material amendment will be required.
• The application will not count towards the Council's statistical returns.
• Applications and decisions must go on the planning register.
• There is no prescribed form of decision, but it must be in writing.

• The Council will endeavour to respond within 28 days of receipt of the application form and fee to advise you if the changes can be accepted as an amendment to the approved scheme, or whether a material amendment or formal planning application needs to be made.

b. Material Amendment through the formal variation of the approved planning permission

Minor Material Amendment

Recent planning decision notices include a condition requiring the works to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.  In some instances, it is possible to amend this condition, in order to substitute an amended plan.  Where this is the case, you can apply for a minor material amendment when:

• the character and description of the amended scheme remains the same, and;
• the development is one whose scale and nature results in a development which is not substantially different from the one which has been approved,

You can apply for a non-material minor amendment through the Planning Portal.

Apply online

Guidance notes are available to help you complete your application. The fee for this application is £234.00.

Variation of Condition

You can seek to remove or vary a condition attached to your permission.  This may be when you consider the condition no longer applies or when you wish to seek extend the time limit imposed on the commencement of development for unimplemented extant permissions granted on or before 1 October 2010.  A statement setting out the reasons why the condition should be removed or varied should accompany the application.

You can apply for a non-material minor amendment through the Planning Portal.

Apply online

Guidance notes are available to help you complete your application. The fee for this application is £293.00.

Significant changes which cannot be considered to be a minor amendment

For all other cases a fresh planning application will need to be submitted and the Council's full information requirements remain relevant for a revised application.  In some instances, a fee may not be required, and you should consult with the planning team for further information.

Please note: you are unable to apply for a non-material amendment following approval for Listed Building Consent.  You will need to apply for a new Listed Building Consent application which should be submitted detailing the proposed amendments.  A revised Conservation Area consent application will only be required if you propose a lesser or greater amount of demolition than already approved.

Further guidance is available from the Department of Communities and Local Government.

For further information please contact: