Search planning applications

Use Guildford Public Access for live and historic planning application records, appeals, documents and application-status checks.

Use the planning map

Use the interactive map for constraints, site context, listed buildings, TPOs, conservation areas, Article 4 directions and Local Plan layers.

Apply for permission

Use the Planning Portal for most new applications, then check Guildford’s Local Validation List and local drainage requirements before submitting.

Check planning policy

Use the Local Plan, neighbourhood plans, SPDs and policies map when you need to understand why an application may be accepted or refused.

Follow committee meetings

Use Planning Committee pages for trigger rules, meeting dates, agendas, reports, minutes and public-speaking arrangements.

Check planning fees

Use the Planning Portal fee calculator, then remember Guildford validates whether the submitted fee is correct for the application.

How to find a site

• Open the Find Address tab.
• Enter the postcode or house number.
• Click Go and choose the best matching address.
• Use the Planning tab for applications, tree applications, TPOs and listed buildings.
• Use Land Charges Register Information for conservation areas, Article 4 and S52/S106 layers.
• Use Local Plan 2015–2034 layers for AHAP, River Wey corridor, SSSIs, SPAs and town-centre boundary.

Map mistakes to avoid

• Do not treat map layers as the whole planning answer.
• Do not rely on the map alone for legal conveyancing decisions.
• Check current policies if the map looks out of date.
• Open the actual application record and documents before commenting.
• Use a formal location plan for applications, not a screenshot.
• Contact the council if a layer looks wrong or missing.

When committee can decide

• Householder or similar application: 10 or more comments contrary to the caseworker recommendation.
• Major or minor application: 20 or more contrary comments.
• Large-scale Guildford Borough Council applications.
• Councillor, council employee or close-relation applications.
• Director request or councillor call-in for planning reasons.

Before the meeting

• Check whether a caseworker report is published five days before the meeting.
• Read the recommendation, conditions and reasons carefully.
• Check whether your comment is summarised correctly.
• Look for late changes, revisions or updates.
• Prepare one focused point instead of repeating your whole objection.

Public speaking

• Public speaking applies in some committee cases.
• Up to four people can speak: two in support and two in objection.
• Speakers are chosen first come, first served.
• Guildford’s committee-decision page says each person gets three minutes.
• Register by the official deadline and follow the committee guide.

Planning matters to use

• Design, scale, layout and materials.
• Overlooking, privacy, daylight and sunlight.
• Highway safety, traffic, parking and access.
• Noise, disturbance, amenity and operating hours.
• Listed buildings, conservation areas and heritage setting.
• Trees, ecology, BNG, SPAs and protected habitats.
• Flood risk, drainage and site levels.
• Local Plan and neighbourhood-plan policy conflict.

Do not rely on these

• Anonymous comments.
• Offensive or provocative wording.
• Personal allegations about the applicant.
• Private boundary or ownership disputes.
• Property value concerns.
• Loss of private view without planning policy support.
• Phone numbers, emails or signatures in public comment text.
• Copied template text with no Guildford-site detail.

Householder works

Extensions, roof changes, dormers, outbuildings, boundary walls, garages and conversions depend on permitted development limits, property type and constraints.

Listed and conservation areas

Listed-building controls can apply to exterior, interior, attached structures and some walls, gates or objects within the surrounding land.

Trees and protected habitats

Check TPOs, conservation area trees, SPAs, SSSIs, biodiversity requirements and drainage constraints before altering a site.

Basic application package

• Correct application form.
• Ownership certificate.
• Correct fee or exemption evidence.
• Site location plan and block plan.
• Existing and proposed drawings.
• Planning statement or design statement where required.
• Local Validation List documents for the exact application type.
• Drainage, BNG, heritage, tree or transport information where triggered.

File and drawing standards

• Use single-layer PDF drawings.
• Submit other documents as PDF.
• Keep each file no larger than 5MB.
• State scale and paper size clearly, such as 1:100 on A3.
• Show dimensions on householder and extension plans.
• Use properly scaled location and site plans.
• Do not reuse old or borrowed drawings without permission.
• Check major-application extra material before uploading.

BNG information to prepare

• Statement confirming whether BNG applies.
• Pre-development biodiversity value.
• Completed statutory biodiversity metric.
• Habitat plan at identified scale with north shown.
• Evidence for any exemption claim.
• Information about earlier habitat degradation where relevant.
• Biodiversity Gain Plan after permission where required.
• Long-term management and monitoring evidence.

Local ecology context

• Guildford borough states a 20% biodiversity-value improvement unless exempt.
• Strategic significance can affect habitat calculations.
• Surrey Local Nature Recovery Strategy may affect strategic-significance context.
• SPAs, SSSIs, nature reserves, River Wey corridor and tree layers should be checked on the map.
• BNG may require changes to red-line boundary, hardstanding, access or drainage.

Buyer checklist

• Search Public Access by address and postcode.
• Open related applications, appeals and conditions.
• Use the map for conservation, Article 4, TPOs and Local Plan layers.
• Search building-control records separately.
• Check decision notices and approved plan numbers.
• Ask your solicitor about local land charges and formal searches.

Seller or landlord checklist

• Collect decision notices and approved drawings.
• Collect discharge-of-condition approvals.
• Collect building-control completion evidence.
• Check old works, listed consent and LDC evidence.
• Resolve missing records before listing if possible.
• Check HMO, short-let, licensing and change-of-use issues separately.