Revised planning applications and minor amendments

​Minor amendments

Very minor changes can be agreed by the department in writing and these are referred to as minor amendments.

Minor amendments include:

• insubstantial alterations to the appearance of the development, where the amendment doesn’t result in the diminishing of the design quality or the standard of materials
• changes which don’t result in additional impact on a neighbouring property
• changes which don’t result in an increase in height or floor space

In cases where planning permission has been granted prior to 18 July 2016, an increase in the height, width and length of the building of up to 100mm is permitted, where this increase is required solely for the purposes of meeting the 2016 fabric insulation standards of the Building Bye-Laws, and prior notification of the size increase has been submitted in writing to Planning.

Cost

There is no charge for requesting a minor amendment.

How to submit a minor amendment

You can request a minor amendment by post or emailing Planning. You must include full and accurate drawings of the changes.

Revised plans

If the change is more substantial you’ll need to submit a new planning application referred to as a revised plans application.

Revised plans applications include:

• alterations to the appearance or layout
• insubstantial changes in the size of a building
• changes to the position of a building on a site
• changes to access and parking arrangements

Cost

A revised plans application will be charged for the change involved. For instance, a revision which seeks to slightly adjust the position, height or design of a building will be regarded as a material alteration. A revision which seeks an increase in floor area will only be charged for the change in floor area created.

How to submit a revised plan

Submit revised plans applications using the relevant application form. You need to include the required plans. We’ll contact you for the payment of the requisite fee.

You must include full and accurate drawings of the changes.

Timeline for revisions and amendments to applications

You can only revise or amend planning permission whilst it remains valid. This means before the expiry of the standard time limit for commencement of the work and before the development has been completed. Once either of those points have passed, the permission no longer exists and a new application will be required to carry out any work.

Both revisions and amendments are changes to existing planning permission and shouldn’t alter the terms of that permission. Changes to the application site, the type or nature of the development or an alteration to the size of a development will require a new planning application.

Applications which have been previously refused can’t be revised or amended.