A Planning Statement is a supporting document that explains the planning context of a proposal and how the proposal relates to relevant planning policy and other planning considerations. It is not an application form, not a planning decision, and not a guarantee that permission will be granted.
Planning Statements help explain how a proposal relates to relevant planning policy and other planning considerations. They give the local planning authority, and anyone else reading the application, a clear written account of what is proposed and why it is being put forward in planning terms.
They sit alongside the application form, drawings and any other supporting information. The statement does not replace those documents, and it does not decide the application. The relevant planning authority remains the decision-maker.
There is no single universal format. What is useful depends on the proposal, the site and the planning authority. Common areas that may be relevant include:
This is not a universal checklist. A modest householder proposal may need only a short explanation. A more complex scheme may need a fuller assessment. The exact content should follow the proposal and the authority’s requirements, not a one-size-fits-all template.
Not every planning application needs a Planning Statement. National validation requirements in England include specified documents for all applications, and a Design and Access Statement only for some applications. A Planning Statement is not one of those nationally mandatory documents for every application.
Many local planning authorities publish a local list of supporting information. That list can ask for a Planning Statement for particular application types, scales or locations. Requirements can also depend on the proposal, local planning policy and the authority’s current validation guidance.
The reliable way to check is to look at the relevant local planning authority’s published validation requirements before you submit. If you are unsure, the authority can usually confirm what it expects for that application type.
People often search for a planning statement for a house extension. Some householder proposals benefit from a short Planning Statement, particularly where the planning policy or site context needs explaining, or where the local planning authority asks for supporting information.
That does not mean every house extension needs one. Some householder work does not need a planning application at all if it is permitted development. Where an application is needed, the supporting documents still depend on the proposal and on local requirements.
If you are unsure whether the work needs planning permission, start with general permitted-development information or a project-specific check rather than assuming a Planning Statement is required.
See the permitted development guide for general householder rules, or the Permitted Development Check if you want Verilio to look at a specific project.
A Planning Statement focuses primarily on planning policy and context, and on how the proposal relates to those considerations.
A Design and Access Statement focuses on the design approach and, where applicable, access. National guidance describes it as a concise report that accompanies certain applications for planning permission and applications for listed building consent. It is required for some applications, not all of them.
One document does not automatically replace the other. Whether either is needed depends on the application and the applicable national and local requirements. Some applications need a Design and Access Statement; some local lists also ask for a Planning Statement; some householder applications need neither, or need other supporting information instead.
For the design and access document, see the Design and Access Statement guide.
People looking for a planning statement example or template often want a starting outline. The list below is an illustrative structure only. It is not a universal template, not a copy of a real application, and not a format that every council uses.
The right structure depends on the proposal, the site, the planning authority and the relevant policies. A template that ignores those facts is not a substitute for a project-specific statement.
Verilio’s £99 Planning Preparation service is a planning-preparation service for residential projects. It researches the property, identifies relevant planning context from available information, uses the project details you provide, and helps prepare a Planning Statement where that is appropriate to the project.
It can also prepare other supporting planning documents where they are relevant, including a Design and Access Statement. Verilio cannot say with certainty which documents the council will require, and it does not guarantee that a prepared statement will be accepted or that planning permission will be granted.
You review and edit the documents before you use them. Verilio does not submit the application.
If you first want the planning history and constraints for an address, start with Property & Planning Research. The full Planning Preparation package includes property research and document preparation together.
Planning Preparation — £99No. Whether one is needed depends on the application type, the proposal and the relevant planning authority’s validation requirements. Check the authority’s published local list rather than assuming every application needs one.
Enough information to explain the proposal, the site, relevant policy and the main planning considerations. The exact contents vary. There is no single statutory template for every application.
Yes. Many applicants write their own. The useful ones are accurate, specific to the site and honest about what is known and unknown. Professional advice can still be appropriate for more complex proposals.
No. A Planning Statement is mainly about planning policy and context. A Design and Access Statement is mainly about design and, where relevant, access. They can both be used on the same application, but one does not replace the other.
Not necessarily. Some householder applications are accompanied by one, especially where local validation requirements or the planning context make it useful. Others are not. Confirm the requirements with the relevant local planning authority.
The guidance below is general. It does not set a universal requirement for a Planning Statement on every application.
Making an application (GOV.UK). National guidance on submitting a planning application in England, including Design and Access Statements for some applications and local lists of supporting information.