Planning advice and guidance

Here you can find a number of advice and good practice guidance documents to view or print. 

Please look in Planning - General advice for information on:

• ecological surveys and the planning application process
• the way in which planning applications are determined
• whether you need to enter into a legal agreement with the Council
• design and access statements

See our Local list requirements section for details on what should accompany any submission.

Our Listed buildings guidance advises on what work can be done to these buildings in our district. Please also see Listed buildings FAQs.

Residential and commercial developments guidance gives information on how these developments may affect the surrounding community.

Council procedures include the council's Code of Practice, which sets out how our local planning system operates.

The Communities and Local Government - Creating Better Places guide explains how the planning system works. It emphasises the importance of everyone in the community getting involved in taking decisions about what happens in their local area.