Why we ask: “Are you making a normal planning application to the council?”
Most users should answer Yes to this question.
This page is designed to catch a small number of unusual planning routes where Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) currently does not apply. These routes are uncommon. If you are submitting a normal planning application to your local council, you should usually answer Yes and continue.
What counts as a normal planning application?
You should usually answer Yes if you are applying to the council for planning permission in the normal way.
This includes most applications for:
full planning permission
outline planning permission
minor residential or commercial development
changes to an existing permission
reserved matters or follow-on planning applications linked to an existing permission
In plain English: if you are filling in a normal planning application form and waiting for the council to decide whether to grant permission, the answer is almost certainly Yes.
When should I answer No?
You should only answer No if your development already has permission, or is using a special permission route, rather than going through a normal planning application.
These cases are unusual.
You may need to answer No if the development is covered by one of the following:
permitted development rights or prior approval
a Local Development Order
a Neighbourhood Development Order
a Simplified Planning Zone
a successful enforcement appeal
another consent or order that says planning permission is “deemed to be granted”
If none of those sound familiar, the answer is probably Yes. Only answer No if you already know your development is covered by a special route such as permitted development, prior approval, a local planning order, a successful enforcement appeal, or deemed planning permission.