Planning application drawings across Cornwall.

Cornwall specifics

Drawings tuned to Cornwall Council policy, not a generic template.

FAQs

Planning application drawings in Cornwall — the questions we get every week.

What are planning application drawings?

Planning application drawings are the scaled plans, elevations, sections, site plan and location plan a Local Planning Authority — in most of Cornwall that's Cornwall Council — needs to validate and decide a planning application. They show what a building will look like and where it sits, not how it's built. Building regulation drawings come later and cover the construction detail.

What drawings does Cornwall Council need to validate a householder application?

Existing and proposed plans, elevations and sections at 1:100 or 1:50, a block/site plan at 1:200 or 1:500 showing the red line, and a location plan at 1:1250 showing the site edged red with a blue-line ownership boundary if you own adjoining land. Anything missing triggers an invalidation letter and resets the clock — our submissions go in complete first time.

How much do planning drawings cost in Cornwall?

For a typical householder extension or loft conversion, a full planning drawing set with submission usually runs £1,200–£2,400 plus VAT. Fees scale with survey work, listed-building or AONB constraints, and whether Design & Access or Heritage Statements are required. Cornwall Council's planning fee is separate — currently £258 for a householder application.

How long does Cornwall Council take to decide a planning application?

Statutory targets are 8 weeks for householder and minor applications, 13 weeks for major. In practice Cornwall Council is usually decision-in-hand around 8–12 weeks on householder work when the case officer isn't asking for revisions. We handle officer queries in-house so the clock keeps moving.

Do I need planning permission for my extension?

Not always — many single-storey rear extensions fall inside Permitted Development if the site isn't in a Conservation Area, AONB, National Park or on a listed building. Where PD applies, we can prepare a Certificate of Lawful Development instead of a full planning application: same drawings, faster route, formal confirmation from Cornwall Council that no permission is needed.

AONB, Conservation Area or listed — what changes?

Permitted Development rights are cut back or removed and full planning is almost always required. Cornwall AONB and the LPA look closely at materials, roof form, window pattern and boundary treatment. Listed buildings need a separate Listed Building Consent alongside planning. We design to those constraints from day one rather than trimming a scheme back later.

What scales should planning drawings be drawn at?

Plans, elevations and sections at 1:100 (1:50 for smaller works). Block/site plan at 1:200 or 1:500 showing red-line boundary, existing buildings, north point and access. Location plan at 1:1250 (1:2500 for larger sites). Cornwall Council will refuse to validate anything drawn at the wrong scale or missing a scale bar.

Can you handle pre-application advice with Cornwall Council?

Yes — we prepare and submit pre-app packages where the site is complex, sensitive or where officer feedback will materially change the scheme. It's not always the right spend on a straightforward householder job. We'll tell you up-front which side of that line your project sits.

What if my application is refused?

Refusal isn't the end — most refusals we see are fixable. Options are a revised resubmission (free within 12 months of the original), a planning appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, or a Section 73 variation on an existing permission. We read the officer's report line by line, and either revise or advise you not to.

Do the planning drawings roll straight into building regs?

Yes — we design planning and building regulation drawings in the same CAD model, so the moment consent lands we can push the 1:50 / 1:10 construction package to Cornwall Council Building Control without redrawing the scheme. Fewer weeks between decision and start on site.