Watford Borough Council

An application form for planning permission should be used for improvements to your home e.g:

• Porches
• Extensions
• Loft conversion
• Garage or outbuildings
• High garden walls or fences
• New or altered access on to main road

By completing the form you are applying solely for planning permission.  In many cases an extension to your house, including in some instances a garage or porch will require Building Regulation approval.  This is not the same as planning permission, but is the control of actual building works in respect of fire resistance, structural stability, ventilation, thermal insulation and drainage, rather than the siting, design and external appearance of the building. 

If you have any doubts please contact Building Control on 01923 226400 or email buildingcontrol@watford.gov.uk

As different laws govern them, your application for planning permission will be dealt with entirely separately from any application submitted for Building Regulation approval.

It is possible that planning permission could be refused and Building Regulations given for a specific proposal (and vice versa).  It is up to you to ensure that you have all the necessary consents before starting work.

Granting planning permission does not give you the right to enter land or carry out work on land not in your ownership.  Planning permission is only the approval of your proposal by the Council as Local Planning Authority.  You will still need to obtain the landowner's permission where necessary.

Planning application drawings

Drawings should include the following:

• A location plan preferably at 1/1250 or 1/2500 which identifies the application site
• A site plan usually 1/500 or 1/200 showing the proposals in relation to site boundaries and other buildings within the site.  This drawing should show positions of all buildings and highways on land adjoining the application site.  It should also show the position and size of all trees within or just outside the site.
• Plans should show the extent and type of surfacing and walling or fencing where proposed. 
• As few sites are flat, the plan should show existing and proposed levels of the site, as well as proposed levels of the development.  Where major changes to existing ground level are proposed, cross sections of the development should be supplied.
• Floor plans, usually 1/100 or 1/50 to explain the proposals in detail.
• Elevations, usually 1/100 or 1/50 to show all sides of the proposals.  These drawings should indicate as fully as possible the proposed building materials, their type, colour and maker, if known.  Where a proposed elevation adjoins another or others, in a semi-detached or terraced situation, then an adequate part of the adjoining elevation(s) should be shown on the drawing.

Nearby manholes and sewers positions can be ascertained from Building Control.