Make a planning application

Before you make your planning application

Check you are contacting the correct authority. Essex County Council manages applications for minerals, waste and services the council provide. Such as schools, libraries and roads.

For any other development, you need to contact your local planning authority.

We recommend you get pre-application advice before making your application.

Waste and county council development planning applications

The easiest way to apply is online via the Planning Portal. There you can find guidance, attach documentation, and calculate and pay fees. This excludes mineral applications.

You can also apply using the relevant downloadable form. See Forms and guidance below. If using a downloadable form, complete and return to us, by email or post, using the contact details below. Then pay fees using our Minerals and waste payments online form.

See the Planning Portal’s fee calculator to find out how much to pay. Or contact us using the details below.

Contact the County Planning Development Management Team

Email: mineralsandwasteDM@essex.gov.uk

Address:

County Planning Development Management Team Essex County Council County Hall Chelmsford CM1 1QH

Minerals planning applications

Fill in the minerals planning application form (DOC, 140KB). You should use the guidance for mineral developments (DOC, 72KB) to help you.

Send to us by email or post using the details above.

You must submit the following documents with your minerals application.

National and local validation requirements

Our National & Local Validation Lists are a curated set of criteria and guidelines that will play a significant role in local planning and development decisions. They are designed to ensure that planning applications are made to a consistent high quality and contain relevant material information for consideration of the merits of the application. It is an opportunity to get the application right to avoid delay and may help to avoid refusals.

There are different validation requirements for each application type. These have been reviewed to reflect changes in national and local policy. The final versions are available below:

All applications must meet national and local validation requirements.

Failing to supply the right information as outlined in the checklists above will delay your application.

Biodiversity Net Gain is now a statutory requirement for many applications. The Lists have been updated to capture the national policy requirements.

The documents included in the Lists are not universally applicable to all applications and careful thought will be given to which documents are appropriate to any application.

Any suggestions and comments received about the lists will be collated and the Lists will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis and may be subject to a period of consultation.

Environmental impact assessment

If your proposal is likely to have a major environmental impact, you may need to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment with your planning application.

The aim of an EIA is to protect the environment. It does this by ensuring planning authorities know about any significant environmental impact a project is likely to have. They can then consider this when making planning decisions.

Environmental impact assessment stages

There are five stages to EIA.

1. Screening

This includes determining if a proposal:

falls under the remit of the regulations
is likely to have significant environmental effects

2. Scoping

This includes determining which issues should be considered and reported in the Environmental Statement.

3. Prepare Environmental Statement

This must be prepared by experts and include details of their relevant expertise or qualifications.

4. Submit planning application and publish Environmental Statement

The planning application should be submitted along with the Environmental Statement. The latter should be published online by the local planning authority. Statutory consultees and the public will then have an opportunity to comment on the proposed development and the Environmental Statement.

5. Decision

The local planning authority will consider the proposal, take into account the Environmental Statement and any submissions and decide whether to grant planning permission or not.

See the government's EIA guidance for a full explanation.

If you think your proposal is likely to need an EIA, please contact us at the earliest stage using the details above.

Forms and guidance

See the Planning Portal website for an explanation of the different types of planning consent.

Full planning permission

Full planning permission – application form (PDF, 1.34MB) Full planning permission – guidance notes (PDF, 249KB)

Outline planning permission

Application for a Lawful Development Certificate

This certificate states that a proposed or existing development is lawful.

Lawful Development Certificate – existing use or operation

Lawful development certificate existing use – application form (PDF, 1MB) Lawful development certificate existing use – guidance notes (PDF, 74KB)

Lawful Development Certificate – proposed use or development

Lawful development certificate proposed use – application form (PDF, 976KB) Lawful development certificate proposed use – guidance notes (PDF, 55KB)

See Validation form 2 - applications for lawful development certificates (PDF, 1MB). Or contact us for pre-application advice.

Application for removal or variation of a condition

Removal or variation of a condition – application form (PDF, 948KB) Removal or variation of a condition – guidance notes (PDF, 57KB)

See our Additional guidance for help with minor material amendments (DOC, 78KB). Or contact us for pre-application advice.

Application for approval of details reserved by condition

Application for approval of details reserved by condition - form (PDF, 934KB) Application for approval of details reserved by condition - guidance (PDF, 45KB)

Non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission

Non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission – application form (PDF, 949KB) Non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission – guidance notes (PDF, 164.80KB)

Application for prior approval confirmation for building demolition

Prior approval confirmation for building demolition - application form (PDF, 936KB) Prior approval confirmation for building demolition - guidance notes (PDF, 63.9KB)

Apply to change or remove planning obligations

Planning permission may be granted subject to certain conditions. For example, a developer may agree to pay money or carry out work to mitigate the effects of a development.

You can apply to remove or amend an obligation under a Section 106A agreement. (Section 106A refers to the relevant part of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.)

To apply, fill out this form using the guidance notes included: Application for the modification or discharge of planning obligations form (DOC, 79KB)

Please contact us for pre-application advice if you’re unsure which form to use.