Watford Borough Council

The Development Control team provide guidance notes which aim to help you submit your planning application. If you do not receive a copy, they are available by contacting the Development Control team by using the email address at the bottom of the page or by telephoning our Planning Support team on 01923 278293 or 278294.  You can help make your planning application a success by addressing each of the following:

Application forms

Complete all sections of the application form, sign it and send us six completed copies. Available to download click here

Contact details

Please provide enough information for us to be able to contact you or your agent, including mobile telephone numbers or email addresses. This is useful as it will help us to promptly arrange site visits or speak to you,should we need to discuss any issues with you.

Location

Sufficient details should be provided to make sure the application site can be clearly identified.

Description of proposal

This is the information that will eventually appear on the decision notice. It is important that you provide sufficient information to help us quickly identify exactly what you are applying for. If this information is not correct, it will delay the Council's process and may mean that further consultation will be required late in the application process.

Complete the relevant certificates

If you are the freehold owner or have a tenancy of all the land, Certificate A is appropriate. If you are not, you will have to give notice to the owner/owners and complete Certificate B. Certificates C and D are appropriate only if you have made efforts to trace the other owners and have failed. Owner for the purposes of Certificates B, C and D includes a person having a tenancy with 10 or more years to run as well as the freehold owner. If any of the land to which the application relates constitutes or forms part of an agricultural holding, you will also have to give notice to any agricultural tenant, and certify accordingly. Copies of Certificates C and D and the appropriate notice can be obtained from the Planning Division.

Plans

Send us six copies of your plans, these should be to a metric scale and should include:-

• Block plans showing the subject of the application (e.g. extension, fence etc) and immediate neighbouring properties.

• Elevation plans for the new extension/work should be clearly indicated.

• Floor plans

• A site plan to a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500 should be included in your application. This should show clearly any adjoining properties and access points. The application site must be edged in red and any other adjoining land owned or controlled by the applicant outlined in blue.

What does it cost?

In most cases, you will need to pay a fee to the Council when you submit your application (unless you can claim an exemption). These fees are subject to change and are set out nationally and reviewed anually by the Government. The amount that you pay depends upon the specific type of development that you are proposing to carry out.  If you have any queries about the planning fee, you can use the fee calculator at the Planning portal or contact the Planning Support team during office hours.

Making sure that all this information is submitted will mean that we will be able to process your application more promptly. Should you need any help in completing your application please contact our Planning Support team using the contact details below.