Mandatory Drawings for a Householder Application

Every householder planning application in England requires a minimum set of drawings. Submitting without these will result in the LPA invalidating your application — meaning the clock does not start and you will need to resubmit.

Location Plan (1:1250)

The location plan places the application site in its wider context. It must be:

• Based on an up-to-date Ordnance Survey map
• Drawn at 1:1250 scale (or 1:2500 for larger rural sites)
• Showing the application site outlined in red
• Showing any other land owned or controlled by the applicant outlined in blue
• Showing sufficient surrounding roads and features for the site to be identified

You cannot use Google Maps or similar for a location plan — it must be an OS-based map. The Planning Portal sells location plans directly. Expect to pay £5–£30 depending on the site area and supplier.

Site Plan / Block Plan (1:500)

The site plan (sometimes called a block plan) shows the application site in detail. It must be drawn at 1:500 scale and show:

• The site boundary
• The position of the existing building(s) on the plot
• The position and footprint of the proposed works
• Neighbouring buildings and boundaries
• Access and parking arrangements
• Any trees within or adjacent to the site
• North point and scale bar

Floor Plans (Existing and Proposed)

Floor plans must be drawn at 1:50 or 1:100 scale and show:

• The layout of every floor affected by the works
• Room names and dimensions
• Position of doors, windows, and staircases
• Clearly distinguished existing vs proposed walls (typically: existing in grey/light, proposed in black/dark or hatched)

For an extension, you will need plans of the ground floor (and any upper floors affected) showing both the current layout and the proposed new layout. The two plans must be at the same scale.

Elevations (Existing and Proposed)

Elevations show the external faces of the building. You need:

• All affected elevations — for a rear extension, at least the rear elevation and the two side elevations that show the junction between old and new
• Existing and proposed versions of each affected elevation
• Scale 1:50 or 1:100
• Overall height dimensions and floor-to-ceiling heights
• Materials noted on the drawings or in a schedule
• For sloped sites: the relationship between the finished floor level and existing/proposed ground levels

Additional Drawings Sometimes Required

What Drawings Must Show

Regardless of drawing type, all planning drawings must include:

• A title block: project address, drawing title, drawing number, scale, date, and revision
• A scale bar (so the scale can be checked even when printed at a different size)
• North point (on site plans and floor plans)
• All key dimensions
• Materials (on elevations)

Drawings submitted without a title block or scale bar are commonly returned as invalid.

Who Prepares Planning Drawings?

Planning drawings can be prepared by:

• RIBA-chartered architects — highest level of professional qualification; appropriate for complex projects
• Architectural technologists (CIAT members) — technically focused; often more cost-effective for householder work
• Architectural technicians — not chartered but experienced in producing planning drawings
• Online drawing services — low-cost services that produce drawings from dimensions you provide; suitable for simple extensions
• The applicant — you can prepare drawings yourself if they meet the required standards

Cost of Planning Drawings

These figures are for planning drawings only and do not include building regulations drawings, which are a separate cost if you need them.