Submitting a planning application

Making a planning application

There are different application forms depending on what you need to apply for, some applications have been combined into one form, for example, Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent. Please contact us if you have any questions about which form to use or what information you should submit with an application.

To submit your application please use the Planning Portal. They provide two methods for submitting applications:

• Electronic submission - complete the online form, upload all the plans and supporting documentation, you can also purchase your location plan through the Planning Portal, and finally pay the correct fee.
• Download a PDF version of the form - complete it and send it to us along with all the plans and supporting documentation. If possible, please email your PDF form, and all PDF plans and documents to Development Control, or post the completed application to our contact address.

Please note, some of the Prior Approval Notification forms are not available through the electronic submission system and have to be downloaded.

Before submitting your application, please use the Planning Portal checklists to make sure you have included everything we will need to process the application.

For applications submitted in the post, we only require one copy of all forms, certificates, plans and accompanying documents. It would however be helpful and speed up the registration of your application if you can use the online submission method.

We will let you know, normally within three working days, if we need any further information to make your application valid. If we do not receive this additional information within one month, we will return the incomplete papers to you.

Application guidance

Applicants and agents should refer to the Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 for the information requirements for all applications and the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) accompanies the order and should be referred to where necessary. 

Members of the public who are considering submitting an application may also wish to seek independent advice from a planning consultant or other professional agent to ensure that applications are fit for purpose on submission.

All applicants should note that for major developments the Derby City Council adopted Supplementary Planning Document relating to Planning Obligations remains in place.

Local Validation List

We've produced a Local List of Validation Requirements (LLVR) to guide people when making a planning application. The LLVR covers a comprehensive range of relevant topic areas but not all will be applicable, as applications vary in scale and complexity. For example, the information requirements for a householder extension will be much smaller than for a large-scale commercial development. Hopefully the LLVR will assist all applicants in assembling the right amount of supporting information.

Further information and guidance about a range of planning issues can also be found in the planning practice guidance produced by central Government.

Heritage Statement

We have produced some guidance to help you write a Heritage Statement. This is required for applications for Listed Building Consent and works to properties in conservation areas.

Article 4 Direction - Houses in Multiple Occupation

The Article 4 direction relates to development consisting of a change of use of a building from a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouse) of Part 3 of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) to a use falling within Class C4 (small houses in multiple occupation) of Part 3 of that Schedule and removes permitted development rights for this type of development. The direction is made under Article 4 (1) of the Order and came into force on 3 May 2025.

Planning permission will therefore be required for change of use from a dwelling to a house in multiple occupation now that this Article 4 direction is in place.

This Article 4 direction applies to the whole of Arboretum Ward and those parts of Abbey, Alvaston North, Darley, Mackworth & New Zealand, Normanton and Sinfin ands Osmaston that are within the Ring Road as indicated on the map.

More information on this Article 4 can be found on our planning constraints page.

Planning fees

Most applications require you to pay a fee with the application. The fees for applications as levied by central government can be found in the guide to fees for Planning Applications in England. To check the correct fee, please use the Planning Portal online fee calculator.

Planning administration charge rates 2025

From 1 September 2025.

Where applicants do not submit their applications through the national Planning Portal, we will cover our administration costs for processing these applications. This will cover all application types. 

These charges apply to all applications unless they are exempt from a planning application fee.

Invalid planning applications (submitted from 1 September 2025)

Invalid applications will not be held for more than 6 months from the date of receipt. Where applications are returned to the applicant we will retain an administration fee.

These charges apply to all applications unless they are exempt from a planning application fee.

Biodiversity net gain monitoring fees

A habitat management and monitoring plan (HMMP) will be required for significant on-site net gains and all off-site net gains for a minimum of 30 years.

For us to audit the delivery of biodiversity units (BUs) approved within the biodiversity gain plan and check that the HMMP is being complied with, monitoring reports will be required for all on-site significant net gain and all off-site net gain. The schedule and methodology for monitoring should be included in the HMMP.

A monitoring fee will be taken by us to cover the long-term costs of reviewing the BNG reports and undertaking site visits over the 30-year period.

For development which proposes significant on-site gain, and is not subject to any other planning obligation, applicants can submit a unilateral undertaking to pay the monitoring fee before the decision stage. For applications where other planning obligations apply, the monitoring fee will be secured by S106 agreement and will be due for payment on start of the development or approval of the biodiversity gain plan.

The fees will be proportional depending on the scale of the application.

Any non-significant on-site gains will not incur a monitoring fee.

*Minor development is where it has been confirmed that there is significant BNG on site from the information submitted with the planning application, but the scale of the development may not require long term monitoring by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. The Government has provided a definition of significant on-site BNG.