Cornwall Council Planning Applications, Search & Permission Guide
Use this page like a planning task dashboard: search a case, view the map, comment online, check permission, apply safely, avoid validation delays, understand BNG, or report a breach.
Skip the long reading. Choose your task, follow the short steps, and use the official link placed inside that section.
What Should You Use First?
Jump to the Exact Cornwall Planning Answer
Use These Official Cornwall Planning Links by Task
These links are placed here for action, not decoration. Use them when you are ready to search, comment, apply, validate, map-check or report.
🔎 Live Planning Register
Use for application search, documents, comments, map search, tracking and alerts.
Open Register📘 Online Register Guide
Alerts, tracking, documents, invalid/withdrawn record limits and troubleshooting.
Read Help💬 Respond to Applications
Online comments, relevant issues, petitions, AI note, postal delay and appeal rule.
Read Rules🏠 Do I Need Permission?
Permitted development, building control, checking service, LDC and common projects.
Check Route📤 Make Application
Planning Portal route, forms, fees, upload rules, agents and application guidance.
Apply Guidance✅ Validation Guide PDF
National and local requirements, missing-information timeline and plan standards.
Open PDF🌿 BNG Guidance
10% biodiversity gain, metric, exemptions, degradation, red/blue line and BNG plans.
Open BNG🗺️ Interactive Maps
Current mapping, basemaps, constraints, accessibility note and GIS support.
Open Maps⚠️ Report a Breach
Check permission history, report correct breach type and prepare evidence.
Report BreachCornwall Council Planning Applications Search Free
Use the live register first. It is the main place to find, view, track and comment on planning applications.
Start with the PA reference
Copy the exact reference from a site notice, neighbour letter, parish agenda, agent email or council document.
If no result, widen the search
Try road, village, parish, farm name, hamlet, partial postcode, proposal word, weekly list or map search.
Open the full record
Check status, description, key dates, parish, officer, documents, comments, consultee replies and decision notice.
Check record limits
Withdrawn application documents are normally available for two years only. Invalid applications can disappear until missing information is supplied. Pre-app cases show limited information.
View Planning Applications Cornwall Map and Nearby Cases
Map search helps when address search fails or the site is a field, farm, lane, rural plot, named cottage, tree site or boundary-sensitive case.
The site address is unclear, the postcode is too narrow, or you only know a lane, village, parish or nearby landmark.
Open the location plan and check the red-line boundary before assuming the map result is the correct land.
Use layers for environment/planning, listed buildings, historic environment, public rights of way and conservation areas.
Old mapping links no longer work. Interactive mapping is graphic-intensive and not available in an accessible format; GIS support is listed by the council.
Cornwall Planning Register Login vs Planning Portal Login
There are two common logins. Pick the right one.
| Your task | Correct account | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Comment online | Cornwall planning register | Allows public comments to be submitted online. |
| Track one case | Cornwall planning register | Track a case until decision or withdrawal. |
| Get area alerts | Cornwall planning register | Save searches and get email notifications. |
| Submit a new application | Planning Portal | Complete forms, upload documents and pay fees. |
| Fix portal upload/payment | Planning Portal support | Planning Portal is separate from Cornwall Council. |
Alert setup that actually works
- Register or log in.
- Search your area.
- For a wider postcode area, remove the final postcode letter.
- For a whole parish, use advanced search.
- Click “save search” and choose email notifications.
- There is no limit to the number of alert areas you can create.
What to Read Before You Comment, Buy or Apply
The short proposal text is not enough. Use the Documents tab.
Cornwall Council Planning Objections Online
Email comments are no longer accepted. Online commenting is the quickest route.
Read the latest plan first
Check revised plan numbers and upload dates before writing.
Use name, address and reference
Anonymous or confidential comments cannot be accepted. Comments are published on the register.
Stick to planning matters
Use headings like access, design, drainage, trees, privacy, heritage, ecology, public right of way or policy.
Submit early
Comments can be submitted until decision, but early comments are safer because the officer may decide before late comments are seen.
| Useful planning points | Usually not relevant |
|---|---|
| Highway safety, traffic, access, parking | Loss of private view |
| Design, appearance, layout, scale | Effect on property value |
| Noise, disturbance, smells, flood risk | Developer identity or motives |
| Daylight, privacy, protected species, trees | Private neighbour disputes |
| Planning history and previous decisions | Private covenants or ownership disputes |
Do You Need Planning Permission in Cornwall?
Some work needs planning permission, some needs building regulations, some needs both, and some may be permitted development.
Minor house changes can sometimes be done without planning permission, but rights can be removed by condition or Article 4 direction.
Cornwall’s informal “Do I need?” service gives advice within 20 working days after all information is provided.
Sketch location plans, signed privacy notice/acknowledgement and fee. Cornwall lists £438 for householder and £596 for other developments.
Existing/proposed LDC gives formal certainty and can take up to 8 weeks once valid.
HMO, access/dropped kerb, solar, air-source heat pump, EV charger, demolition, adverts and business change-of-use may need checks.
The owner may have to put things back if permission or approval was needed.
Make a Cornwall Planning Application Without Delays
Planning Portal is Cornwall’s preferred online route for submitting and paying, but the portal is not run by Cornwall Council.
Confirm application type, permission route, ownership certificate, agricultural tenant notice and fee.
Prepare separate, named files for plans, reports, CIL, BNG, ecology, heritage, drainage and flood information.
Non-working day or after-5pm submissions count as received the next working day.
Cornwall’s page lists 9 working days for general and householder application validation, updated 15 June 2026.
Use file share/transfer sites only if agreed with the Development Support Team.
Applications that can be submitted via Planning Portal are no longer accepted by email.
Validation Guide: National + Local Requirements
Validation checks whether the right information and fee are supplied. If information is missing, the application is invalid and no further action is taken until corrected.
| Official rule | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| National requirements | Required by legislation. | Check the application type checklist. |
| Local requirements | Set by Cornwall as the LPA. | Check local list items, not only the form. |
| Missing information | Application becomes invalid. | Send all requested items in one complete response. |
| 28-day return risk | Cornwall can return applications if requested information is not supplied. | Watch emails after submission, especially if using an agent. |
| Contaminated land layer | Cornwall cannot publish contaminated-land constraint layer online. | Use the developer guidance and seek advice where risk exists. |
Top Reasons Cornwall Planning Applications Go Invalid
Use this as a pre-submit checklist. It is more useful than reading every page when you only need to avoid common mistakes.
Missing CIL form, no/incorrect fee, incomplete ownership certificate, missing agricultural tenant notice.
No north point, wrong/no scale, highway access not shown where needed, wrong red line.
Missing contaminated-land, flood-risk, foul-drainage, heritage, bat, barn owl or ecology information.
“Do not scale” wording, unclear files, wrong paper size, missing plan numbers, poor orientation.
Plan and Drawing Rules Applicants Miss
These details decide whether your plans are usable.
Plan upload checklist
- Use an up-to-date map for location and block plans.
- Show site edged red and other nearby owned land blue where required.
- Use correct paper size: if it says 1:100 @ A3, upload it at A3.
- Keep plans legible and uploaded in the plan’s correct orientation.
- Use logical file names and submit each plan as a separate labelled document.
- Remove personal phone numbers or details to reduce redaction delays.
Biodiversity Net Gain: What Cornwall Applicants Must Check
BNG is a national requirement for applicable applications and normally means a 10% biodiversity improvement.
Major and minor applications including outlines, where not exempt.
Statement on BNG condition, pre-development biodiversity value, metric tool/version and habitat plan with scale and north point.
Only one exemption can be applied. “De minimis” alone is not enough; provide justification.
Householder development can be exempt, but detached annexes/outbuildings used for ancillary purposes may not fit the householder exemption.
Use the statutory biodiversity metric. Cornwall says old metric versions 4.0 or before cannot be accepted.
Inside red line = on-site. Outside red line, even in blue line land, is off-site and must follow off-site gain process.
Cornwall Council Planning Breach: Report the Right Issue
Enforcement is for actual or already-happened breaches, not anticipated works or private disputes.
Check planning history first
Search by address or map. Land with permission may have a red-line area you can click to view details.
Check whether it is really a planning breach
Some work is permitted development. Civil matters like boundary, party wall, covenant and neighbour disputes are not planning breaches.
Prepare evidence
Name/contact details, site location, person/company if known, reason, start date, harm caused, whether harm continues, photos if available.
Pick the right breach form
Building works, change of use, conditions/plans not followed, listed building, conservation area demolition, protected trees, advertisements or other enforcement matters.
| Can investigate | Usually not a planning breach |
|---|---|
| Building/engineering work needing permission | High hedge or boundary dispute |
| Breach of planning conditions | Party wall or covenant issue |
| Use of land/building without permission | Noise/smell/light pollution route |
| Works not following approved plans | Dangerous structure route |
| Protected trees/listed building/conservation demolition | Highway or pavement issue |
Search, Comment, Upload or Map Not Working?
| Problem | Most useful fix | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No search result | Try reference, road, parish, partial postcode, map search and proposal keyword. | Addresses can be recorded differently. |
| Full postcode too narrow | Remove last postcode letter or use parish search. | Full postcode may show only a few properties. |
| Register not working | Check internet, wait 20 minutes, then use the general enquiry form. | Short outages may resolve quickly. |
| Comment button missing | Log in and check case status/date. | Account needed, or case may be decided/closed. |
| Old map link broken | Use the current interactive mapping page. | Old mapping website is decommissioned. |
| Planning Portal issue | Contact Planning Portal support. | Portal is not run by Cornwall Council. |
Cornwall Planning Contact: Use the Right Route
0300 1234 151 or planning@cornwall.gov.uk for planning support and general enquiries.
If you cannot register an account to comment, Cornwall lists webmanager@cornwall.gov.uk.
For interactive-map assistance, Cornwall lists gis@cornwall.gov.uk.
Use support@planningportal.co.uk or 0333 323 4589 for portal upload/payment problems.
Cornwall Council Planning Department, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY.
Keep application reference, site address, screenshots, document name and a short issue summary ready.
More Cornwall Planning Help
These same-site links are relevant to the same Cornwall planning journey.
📍 Cornwall Planning Portal
Search, map, login, contact and applications walkthrough.
Read Cornwall Portal Guide📘 Cornwall Council Planning Portal
Extra guide focused on Cornwall Council portal search and application route.
Read Cornwall Council Portal GuideCornwall Council Planning FAQs
Where do I search Cornwall Council planning applications?
Use Cornwall Council’s official online planning register. Start with the PA reference, then try address, postcode, parish, village, proposal keyword or map search.
Can I comment on a Cornwall planning application by email?
No. Cornwall Council says public planning comments submitted by email are no longer accepted. Use the online register comment route.
Do I need a Cornwall planning login to comment?
Yes. You need an online planning register account to comment online, track applications and set up notifications.
Why can’t I find an application?
The address may be recorded differently, the postcode may be too narrow, the application may be invalid and temporarily removed, or older withdrawn documents may no longer be available.
What is the Planning Portal used for in Cornwall?
The national Planning Portal is used to submit new planning applications, complete forms, upload documents and pay fees. It is not the same as the Cornwall public register.
Why might a Cornwall planning application be invalid?
Common causes include missing CIL form, wrong fee, incorrect location plan, missing north point or scale, incorrect red line, plans marked “do not scale”, missing PROW, drainage, flood, heritage, ecology or BNG information.
Can anyone comment on a Cornwall planning application?
Yes. Cornwall’s guidance says anyone can comment even if they do not live near the site, but comments should focus on planning matters and are published online.
Can neighbours appeal if Cornwall Council approves an application?
Third parties normally do not have the right to appeal a planning decision. The applicant is the person with the appeal right.
What should I check before reporting a planning breach?
Search the planning history first. The work may already have permission, permitted development rights, a lawful certificate, a discharged condition or an amendment.
Where should I go for Planning Portal upload or payment problems?
Use Planning Portal support, because the Planning Portal is separate from Cornwall Council and handles the online submission/payment system.
Final Summary: Cornwall Council Planning
Use the Cornwall online planning register for existing applications, documents, comments, decisions, tracking and alerts.
Use Planning Portal for new application forms, uploads and fee payment.
Use the Validation Guide before submitting: fee, CIL, plans, red/blue line, PROW, BNG, ecology, drainage, heritage and survey details are the common delay points.