Submitting a Planning Application
Making a planning application
If you haven't already, you'll need to register with the Planning Portal for a planning application account before being able to make a planning application.
If you have already registered on the Planning Portal, you can begin an application after you have logged in.
A planning application cannot be progressed until all the necessary supporting information and the appropriate fee is received by us. If we do not receive all the relevant information and the correct fee, your application will be made invalid, and we will write to you.
Applying online
Registering on the Planning Portal is easy, and you can complete your application form, upload supporting documents and pay fees via this service.
The simplest way to submit a planning application is via the National Planning Portal where you can also:
- work on your application in draft before submitting it to us;
- receive immediate delivery and acknowledgement;
- make savings on postage and printing costs;
- find an online help function when completing applications; and
- have an online record of your completed applications.
The Planning Portal
As well as being able to make planning applications, the Planning Portal provides information, guidance and answers to common questions.
- How does the planning system work?
- Will I need planning permission?
- How do I make a planning application?
- How much does a planning application cost?
- What is the planning decision process?
- How do I make a representation?
- Where can I put my satellite dish?
- Online volume calculator
You can email the Planning Portal directly by using, support@planningportal.gsi.gov.uk
Site Location Plans
An Ordnance Survey (OS) site location plan must be submitted with all applications.
Copies of OS plans are currently available from:
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and Welwyn Garden City Library Information Service can print the latest OS maps which can be used in your planning application and you can also buy historic maps for a particular site.
Hertfordshire County Council can provide Ordnance Survey maps for planning applications.
Plans
It is important that you provide accurate drawings with sufficient details to illustrate your proposal to us and the public. These must be to a recognisable scale. The requirements for what must be submitted are set out in the National Planning Practice Guidance Notes
Planning application fees and how to pay
There are different fees you have to pay depending on the type of application you are submitting to us.
To find out how much your planning application will cost, you can use the Guide to Planning Fees prepared by the Planning Portal.
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Fee Calculator
You can also use the Fee Calculator on the Planning Portal website.
Volume calculator
If you wish to calculate volume, you can use the Volume Calculator on the Planning Portal website.
Increase in Planning Fees
From 6 December 2023 all existing fees payable to the Council under the 2012 Fees Regulations as amended by the Government are increased in respect of applications submitted on or after this date. Fees to be paid in respect to applications, deemed applications, requests for site visits relating to Major Development are increased by 35%. All other existing fees are increased by 25%.
A new provision is also added to the 2012 Fee Regulations so that, from 1 April 2025, all fees under the Fee Regulations can be increased annually. The amount of any increase will be in line with inflation, or if lower, 10%.
Further amendments are made to the 2012 Fee Regulation to remove the exemptions from fees for repeat applications (also referred to as the ‘Free Go’) with a new fee introduced.
A copy of the amended Fee Regulations can be viewed online on the Legislation.gov.uk website.
Submission of applications directly to Stevenage Borough Council
If you wish to submit your application directly to Stevenage Borough Council, either by email to planning@stevenage.gov.uk or in paper format, from 1 January 2024 the council will be introducing a service charge of £70 (including VAT) to process these applications.
Please note that this service charge is in addition to the planning fee you will have to pay as part of any application submission you make to the Council.
The income generated from the service charge whilst covering our costs to process and validate your application, will help to invest in improving our services which includes digitising our records and making our service more interactive, help with the financial pressures which are facing the planning department as well help us to continue to provide you with a service.