Make a planning application

Before submitting any application please ensure you have read the Cornwall Council Validation GuideThis document:

• provides guidance
• helps avoid invalid submissions
• helps avoid delays in validation due to missing information

Validation Guide updated to version 1.3 on 02/11/2023.  Please see table of validation updates for further information.  You my need to refresh your browser to ensure you are viewing the most up to date version.

This page tells you validation timescales and how to: 

• submit a planning application
• download forms
• make a payment and
• where to get help and advice.

Not sure which application to submit or if one is required?

See below links for guidance:

• Do I need planning permission
• Planning fees and charges supplementary document
• Pre-application and pre-planning advice
• Advice for planning applicants

Submit electronically

To help speed up the planning process all our applicants and agents are encouraged to submit electronically.

You can use the Planning Portal to submit and pay for your application online. 

If you are unable to submit electronically via the Planning Portal, please download forms and send to the following address.

Cornwall Council, Planning and Sustainable Development,
PO Box 676,
Threemilestone,
Truro,
Cornwall,
TR1 9EQ.

Please note this is a postal address and not open to the public.

The use of a file share/transfer site should only be used in agreement with the Development Support Team.  This method of providing information will only be accepted where submitting documents via the Planning Portal, hard copy or email is not an option.

Guidance

In addition to the Validation Guide, the following information may also assist:

• Tree Application Validation Document
• Prior notification guidance note

For householder applications, applicants may wish to consider an accredited agent.

Please also visit our:

• Additional Development Guidance page for more technical guidance including:
  • Annexe Guidance Note
  • Permitted development rights in respect of agricultural buildings Class Q.
• Validation updates page. This provides up to date information and changes.
• Make a better application page. This includes the top 10 invalid reasons as well as advice on what to submit
• Interactive mapping. This can help identify some of the constraints and designations at the site

To view constraints and designations follow the above link to interactive mapping.  Once the relevant area has been identified using the location search select the layers tab.  Most designations can be found by expanding the Environment and Planning option.  However there are also mapping layers for Listed Building, Historic Environment and Public Rights of Way.

Contaminated Land

There is currently no publicly available layer on our interactive mapping which provides information on contaminated land.  In order to determine whether a site could potentially be affected by contamination please see page 4 of the following document:

• Public Protection's Land affected by contamination - Developers guide and information requirements for planning applicants. 

Privacy statement

Privacy Notices - Planning and Sustainable Development Service

Planning fees

You can view a list of fees and charges in our Fees and charges document. Further information on our fees can be found within our Planning fees and charges supplementary document. The Planning Portal Fee calculator takes you through a set of questions to help work out your planning application fee.  

Submitting via the Planning Portal? All application fees must be paid via the Planning Portal for the application to be released.

Submitting hard copy? You can pay your fee online on our website or by phone on 0300 1234 151. 

Download forms

Most application forms are available via the Planning Portal find and download paper forms page.  Only forms which are not available via the Planning Portal can be downloaded below.

Please note from 1 April 2022 planning applications which can be submitted via the Planning Portal will no longer be accepted by email.

 Important information - please download and a save a copy of the below forms before making any amendments.  Any information completed directly onto the form and forwarded will be lost.