Local Validation Requirements | Isles of Scilly
The Local Validation Checklist sets out the information that must be submitted to Council of the Isles of Scilly to enable it to validate your planning application. We recommend that you read this page carefully before making an application.
In November 2025, following a public consultation, Members adopted an updated Local Validation Checklist, it can be viewed here.
What is Validation?
Validation is the process of checking that all relevant documentation and the correct fee (where applicable) has been provided to us. If an applicant submits an application without the necessary documentation, fee, or with clear inaccuracies, we will notify the applicant that the application is invalid, setting out the outstanding matters required. The application will not be made valid until all of the outstanding information has been submitted.
It is possible that an application initially considered to be valid may later be found to be invalid. At this point, the applicant will be notified and the application process will stop until the additional information is submitted. The statutory period for the determination of a planning application commences from the validation date.
National & Local Validation Requirements
The information required to validate a planning application is split into two types of requirements, National and Local. National validation requirements, such as the application form, are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 and must be submitted with every planning application.
Local validation requirements are set by the Local Planning Authority and must also be submitted with every application. Our Checklist includes both local and national validation requirements to enable use of the document as a one-stop-shop.
If an applicant considers that a local requirement is not applicable to their proposal, then a written statement must accompany the application justifying why the information has not been provided.
National Validation Requirements
The Council has provided some brief guidance notes on the National Validation Requirements but the Planning Portal web pages can also be reviewed for further guidance.
- Application Form
You must submit a completed application form. You must sign and date the ownership certificates and declaration. You can view these on our planning application form page or submit via the Planning Portal.
- Fee
The correct fee must be submitted with the application. See the Planning Portal for an up to date confirmation on the exact fee.
- Plans, Drawings & Supporting Information
The table below lists the types of plans, drawings and supporting information that might be required. You must provide enough information to describe your proposal. All plans and drawings must have a scale bar, key dimensions, the direction of North, original paper size and scale (e.g. 1:200 at A3) clearly marked on them.
While not compulsory, submitting plans and drawings on A3 will help the Local Planning Authority process your application more efficiently. For example, consider placing fewer elevations on smaller pages sizes, even if this means submitting more documents. We would also recommend only using colour where necessary as this can greatly increase file sizes.
General Guidance
The lists below provides general guidance. We encourage applicants to seek pre-application advice to ascertain the exact level of information required for your proposed development. Please note that failure to submit the relevant surveys/information required specific to your application may result in the application not being registered.
- Plans & Drawings
- Location Plan (scale 1:2500 or 1:1250) with site outlined in red and north point (Planning Portal source for purchasing adequate location and block plans)
- Block Plan (scale 1:500) or Site Plan (scale 1:200) – if the proposal will alter an existing building footprint or create a new building footprint
- Site Levels (scale 1:200) – if the proposal will lead to a change in the level of the land or the proposed development is on land of differing levels
- Floor Plans – Existing and Proposed (scale 1:50 or 1:100) – if the proposal will create, alter or add to a floor
- Elevation Drawings – Existing and Proposed (scale 1:50 or 1:100) – if the proposal will create, alter or add to a building
- Design and Access Statement for; any Major application, OR; any application for one or more dwelling houses or for the provision of 100 sq m or more of floor space in a conservation area
Local Validation Requirements
The Local Validation Checklist should be completed and submitted with your application. If submitting via the Planning Portal, you will need to attach a validation checklist in the 'supporting documents' (local level requirements and additional documentation) section of the submission process. Please find a Checklist for each application type at the end of this page.
- Local Validation Checklist | November 2025
Common Reasons why Applications are Invalid
There are several common reasons why applications are invalid on receipt, please check these points before you submit your application:
• The application form has not being signed or dated correctly.
• The ownership certificate has not been signed, or the incorrect certificate has been completed. [Guidance]
• No fee or the incorrect fee has been paid. [Planning Portal Fee Calculator]
• Inaccurate or incomplete plans or elevations.
• Plan, elevation and/or section drawings that do not match.
• Drawings not to a recognised metric scale.
• No red line drawn around the application site on the location plan.
• Design & Access and/or Heritage Statement not submitted when required.
Additional Information after Validation
The list of requirements is not exhaustive. The Council can still request further, or more detailed information after validation to resolve any particular issues that arise as a result of consultation responses or Officer site visits. Any additional information not required by the Validation Checklist, but which is needed to make a decision, will be requested during the course of the application. This should be provided as soon as possible.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS - BATS
Because the Local Requirements may require more information, it is critical that the timing of your project takes into account the possible need to assess a building, structure or tree for the presence of protected species, such as Bats. Any alteration of a roof, demolition of a structure (requiring planning permission) and any tree or hedgerow removal required as part of the development, will trigger the need for an assessment. Whilst a preliminary assessment can take place at any time during the year, any subsequent Bat Emergence Survey that may be recommended in the preliminary assessment, can only take place when Bats are active (May through to September). Your application may not be valid for consideration until all required and recommended assessments have been submitted.
List of qualified Bat Ecologists who can carry out survey work on the islands
Submitting an Application
The Council strongly encourages the submission of applications via the Planning Portal. The Portal is a quick and user-friendly online system, that provides step-by-step help and advice. For further information about making an application via the Portal please see their website.
Applications can also be submitted via email to planning@scilly.gov.uk, with the application fee settled over the phone by calling the Council’s reception on 0300 1234 105.
Applications via post should be sent to: Planning Department, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Old Wesleyan Chapel, Garrison Lane, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0JD. As with an email submission, the application fee should be settled over the phone by calling the Council’s reception on 0300 1234 105.
