Make a planning application

Please note validation staff are working on a backlog of applications due to an increase in the number of applications received.  We are migrating to a new website which means:

• we cannot update the validation figure usually published weekly
• the published figure will not be reliable.

We are working hard to reduce the backlog as soon as possible. 

This page tells you how to :

• submit a planning application
• download forms
• make a payment and
• where to get help and advice.

Not sure which application to submit or if one is required?

See below links for guidance:

• Do I need planning permission
• Planning fees and charges supplementary document
• Pre-application and pre-planning advice

Submit electronically

To help speed up the planning process all our applicants and agents are encouraged to submit electronically.

You can use the Planning Portal to submit and pay for your application online. 

Forms can also be downloaded  below and emailed to planning@cornwall.gov.uk.  

Please provide plans (A3 in size prefered) as a pdf, no larger than 5MB each. Please include the type of drawing, site name, and paper size in your file titles. If you are submitting a major application, you may be asked to provide extra paper copies or the information on a disk.

We can accept submissions on CD and DVD.  Unfortunately we are unable to accept submissions in any other electronic formats such as USB devices.

Hard copy submissions

To support the climate change emergency, we are increasing electronic working. There is now a handling charge for processing hard copy planning applications and associated documents.

The charges are as follows:

• £100 for major applications
• £50 for general and all other applications

This charge is in addition to any planning application fees.

Only one hard copy of everything is required. This copy will be scanned upon receipt and disposed of after 21 days. 

Guidance

For advice on what to submit with your application, please see the below documents.  Planning recommend following this guidance.  This helps avoid invalid submissions due to missing information.

• Validation Guide 2019
• Tree Application Validation Document
• Householder Submission Guide
• Prior notification guidance note

For householder applications, applicants may wish to consider an accredited agent.

To recover the cost of handling invalid applications, planning are introducing a charge.  The following charges will be introduced from 1st April 2021:

• £60 inc VAT - Householder and other
• £120 inc VAT - Minor
• £250 inc VAT - Major

Applicants/agents could pay for the validation checking service.  This will ensure the correct information is submitted first time

Information regarding the validation checking service can be found here. This can help speed up the validation of your application. Your application will be checked against national and local requirements. This will be followed up with a discussion of missing requirements. This service is by appointment only.

Privacy statement

Privacy Notices - Planning and Sustainable Development Service

Planning fees

You can view a list of fees and charges in our Fees and charges document. Further information on our fees can be found within our Planning fees and charges supplementary document. The Planning Portal Fee calculator takes you through a set of questions to help work out your planning application fee.  

Submitting via the Planning Portal? All application fees must be paid via the Planning Portal for the application to be released.

Submitting via email or hard copy? You can pay your fee online on our website, by phone on 0300 1234 151, via the Planning Portal. 

Download forms

Most application forms are available via the find and download paper forms page.

There are some forms which are not available via the Planning Portal which can be downloaded below.