Block Plan Requirements for Planning Applications

The block plan's distinct job

A location plan identifies the site in the wider area; a block plan explains the development within the site. In England, the location plan is the national minimum and other necessary drawings can be required to describe the proposal. Most physical building or layout projects therefore need a closer plan, but not every consent type uses an identical checklist.

Information to show where it is relevant

Show the proposed development in relation to the site boundaries and existing buildings, with written dimensions where they are needed to understand the layout. Add site features when they influence, or are affected by, the proposal.

• Existing and proposed building footprints
• Distances to relevant boundaries and nearby structures
• Roads, paths, accesses, parking and turning
• Public rights of way
• Trees and landscape features
• Hard surfacing, walls, fences and other boundary treatment
• North, ratio scale, scale bar, paper size and drawing revision

Existing and proposed presentation

Use separate existing and proposed plans or a clearly organised comparison where the authority permits it. Both views should use the same orientation, scale and crop so that changes can be compared directly. Distinguish retained, removed and new features with a key that remains legible in monochrome as well as colour.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own guidance or local requirements. Even familiar 1:200 and 1:500 conventions should be checked against the authority receiving the application.

Use dimensions and survey information proportionately

Written dimensions should locate the proposed footprint and define relationships that matter to the assessment, including distances to relevant boundaries and buildings. A topographic base does not supply reliable building measurements, levels or exact legal-boundary positions merely because it is printed at a recognised scale.

Use a measured survey where the design depends on tight clearances, sloping land, drainage, retaining structures, tree positions or construction setting-out. Identify the source and date of the existing-site information so that it is not confused with the proposed design.

Coordinate the block plan with the full pack

The location plan, block plan, floor plans, elevations, roof plan and specialist drawings should describe the same proposal. Before issue, compare footprint, access, parking, window positions, levels and boundary changes across every drawing that shows them.

• Use one verified application boundary
• Keep the project title and address identical
• Give each drawing a unique number and revision
• Remove superseded versions from the upload set
• Recheck the ownership certificate if the site extent changes