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Make a planning application


Before submitting any application please ensure you have read the Cornwall Council Validation GuideThis document:

  • provides guidance
  • helps avoid invalid submissions
  • helps avoid delays in validation due to missing information

Validation Guide updated to version 1.7 on 10/04/2024.  Please see table of validation updates for further information.  You my need to refresh your browser to ensure you are viewing the most up to date version.

This page tells you validation timescales and how to: 

  • submit a planning application
  • download forms
  • make a payment and
  • where to get help and advice.
Average number of working days to validate general and householder planning applications:
11

The number of days quoted is indicative of when most applications are validated. Updated 16 April 2024.

For information on the top 10 reasons why applications are invalid on receipt please visit the make a better application page

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

See below links for guidance:

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. 

Planning Portal

Planning Portal is a service to submit planning applications electronically. Registration is easy and you can complete your application form, upload supporting documents and pay fees online.

It should be noted that this site is not run by Cornwall Council. If you experience any difficulties with this website please contact support@planningportal.co.uk or 0333 323 4589

Submit application via the Planning Portal

If you are unable to submit electronically via the Planning Portal, please download forms and send to the following address.

Cornwall Council - Planning Department
New County Hall
Treyew Road
Truro
Cornwall
TR1 3AY.

The use of a file share/transfer site should only be used in agreement with the Development Support Team.  This method of providing information will only be accepted where submitting documents via the Planning Portal, hard copy or email is not an option.

Guidance

In addition to the Validation Guide, the following information may also assist:

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

Please also visit our:

To view constraints and designations follow the above link to interactive mapping.  Once the relevant area has been identified using the location search select the layers tab.  Most designations can be found by expanding the Environment and Planning option.  However there are also mapping layers for Listed Building, Historic Environment and Public Rights of Way.

Contaminated Land

There is currently no publicly available layer on our interactive mapping which provides information on contaminated land.  In order to determine whether a site could potentially be affected by contamination please see page 4 of the following document:

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 hard copy? You can pay your fee online on our website or by phone on 0300 1234 151. 

Download forms

Most application forms are available via the Planning Portal:Find and download paper formsOnly forms which are not available via the Planning Portal can be downloaded below.

Please note from 1 April 2022 planning applications which can be submitted via the Planning Portal will no longer be accepted by email.

Important information - please download and save a copy of the below forms before making any amendments.  Any information completed directly onto the form and forwarded will be lost.

See CIL forms

For more information on CIL please see the Community Infrastructure Levy page

New development should make contributions if located within the Zones of Influence from:

  • Plymouth and Tamar Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area
  • Falmouth and Helford Special Area of Conservation
  • Penhale Dunes Special Area of Conservation.

Applications submitted after 9 August require an Appropriate Assessment.  You can find the forms using these links:

Guidance on completion of Appropriate Assessment Templates

Guidance on types of development requiring mitigation

S111 forms and payments should now be submitted online via the online s111 form and online payment system.

The S111 agreement should be signed by the applicant or owner of the development.

The form requires a planning reference.  Please only submit once the application has been submitted via the Planning Portal. and the Planning Portal reference is known.  If submitting an application via email or hard copy please wait for planning to supply you with the planning application reference number.

Information and guidance can be found on the Planning Policy Guidance page.

Renewable Energy Offsetting by S111 Agreement

Offsetting applies where a new build residential proposal has a renewable energy deficit. This means the amount the energy demand exceeds the renewable energy provided. Where there will not be a S106 Agreement the offsetting is made under a S111 agreement. The landowner(s) must complete the form.

Before completing the form you will need a

  • Planning portal reference;
  • Planning application number; or
  • planning appeal reference.

S111 Agreement and Payment Form

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