This page contains important information about what you need to submit with your planning application, prior notification or minerals and waste application.
A fee is required as detailed in the planning application fee list, and all other plans/documents so your application can be determined. Please note: the fees and exemptions changed on 6 December 2023 and you can find out more in the legislation for fees regulations and new increased fees.
The planning forms are national, used by all councils and each one has its own ‘Validation Requirements’ document to advise what plans and documents you need to include, as well as guidance notes. Please read these for your application type from the list below.
Planning applications plans must be to scale and scaled from in order to be able to check the application, you therefore must not mark them as ‘DO NOT SCALE’ as this will result in the application being invalidated. Please also ensure you do not supply photos of plans or use photos to produce paper copies of plans as we cannot accept them. Plans must be submitted at the correct size they were originally created at which can be A4, A3, A2, A1 and A0, which is usually detailed on the plan itself.
Bedford Borough Council also has a ‘Local Validation list’ that details documents we require for certain application types. Planning application additional supporting documents list (PDF).
All planning documentation to be considered as part of your application must be supplied by yourself. We cannot provide you with documentation or submit applications for you. If you require further advice or technical information please see step 1 on the application submissions page. You can also refer to guidance for applicants and agents page for details about how we process applications. See the How to Guides for further guidance.
If you submit your application via the Planning Portal then your fee will be calculated and taken by the Planning Portal. Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Service will check this to ensure it is correct. If you have any problems using the Planning Portal you must contact them directly. The application will not be sent to us until the fee has been paid.
If you need to submit a Heritage Statement please see the details about this half way down the Heritage page and for CIL forms for residential development, please go to www.bedford.gov.uk/CIL.
On receipt of your application(s) we will check your submission as part of the ‘validation’ process. If anything is missing or requires amending, the application will be invalidated and you will be sent a letter explaining what you need to provide within a deadline. If you supply some information and the application is still invalid you will be sent another letter with a new deadline.
An application is only valid and can be processed for a decision once all the required information has been received.
If you do not respond or provide the correct information within the time frame given, your application will be returned and you will need to reapply. Please note: Once an application has been returned and refunded we cannot reverse this process.
Find out what types of prior notifications are needed for development proposals.
Go to our minerals and waste applications page
4. Application for Planning Permission
(Use this form for changes of use, non-householder development and erection of dwellings).
5. Application for Outline Planning Permission with some matters reserved
6. Application for Outline Planning Permission with all matters reservedPlease note that conservation area consent is only required to demolish a building / structure which is bigger than 115 cubic metres or if a fence or wall is to be removed.
9. Application for Planning Permission and consent to display advertisements
10. Application for planning permission for relevant demolition in a conservation area
Please note that conservation area consent is only required to demolish a building / structure which is bigger than 115 cubic metres or if a fence or wall is to be removed.
12. Application for consent to display an advertisement
15. Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed use or development
The fee for this application is half the usual fee.
16. Application for Prior Notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed building
17. Application for Prior Notification of agricultural or forestry development - proposed road
21. Application for Hedgerow removal notice
22. Application for Prior Notification of proposed demolition
23. Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval
24. Application for removal or variation of a condition following grant of Planning Permission
Form 24 is not for the discharge/approval of conditions, for this you need Form 25.
Free application.
28. Application for a new planning permission to replace an extant planning permission in order to extend the time limit for implementation
(This application is only valid for permissions granted on or before 1 October 2010 that have not expired) .
29. Application for a non-material amendment following a grant of planning permission
Please click on the above link and go to the section ‘How to discharge, vary and comply with S106 agreements’ to find the correct form for your request as there are three options. There is no fee applicable. In the event that the application is supported by a viability appraisal, the applicant will normally be required to meet the full costs incurred by the Council in appointing an independent viability assessor.
32. Application for a certificate of lawfulness of proposed works to a listed building
As stated in the Biodiversity Survey and Report requirements within the Local Validation Lists above, the template produced by the Association for Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) can be obtained here ALGE Template (PDF)
The Heads of Terms draft template for S106s can be obtained here Draft S106 Template