Record an accurate existing baseline
Show the buildings, boundaries, access, parking, paths and other features relevant to the proposal as they exist at the application date. Add trees, levels, hard surfacing, walls or fences where they influence or will be affected by the work.
Do not assume the mapping extract records every recent change. Compare it with the site and update the drawing using suitable survey information.
Show the proposed change without ambiguity
Retain the same site frame and identify new, removed and altered features with labels, line types or hatching supported by a key. Written dimensions should locate the proposal and define important relationships rather than asking the officer to scale every measurement from the sheet.
- Proposed footprint and use
- Demolition or removed surfaces
- Changed access, parking or turning
- New or removed trees and planting
- Boundary and level changes
- Drainage or servicing where relevant
Make the existing and proposed plans easy to compare
Use the same north orientation, scale and preferably the same crop. Give each plan a clear title, unique drawing number and controlled revision. A combined comparison sheet can be effective where the authority accepts it and both panels remain measurable; some LPAs instead require individual PDF sheets.
The red application boundary must remain consistent with the location plan wherever it is repeated. Also compare the proposed site plan with floor plans, elevations, landscape and access drawings before submission. Check the national and local document rules for the relevant UK nation rather than assuming one file arrangement applies everywhere.
Use a comparison key that survives printing
Colour can help distinguish retained, removed and proposed work, but it should not be the only cue. Combine colour with line type, hatching and labels so that the difference remains clear on a monochrome office print or an accessibility-adjusted display.
| Status | Possible treatment |
|---|---|
| Existing and retained | Solid neutral line |
| Removed or demolished | Dashed line or labelled demolition hatch |
| Proposed | Heavier line or distinct labelled hatch |
| Unchanged context | Lighter line weight without loss of legibility |
Recheck consequences beyond the footprint
A proposal can change more than the building outline. Compare access, parking, hard surfacing, trees, levels, drainage, walls, fences and garden or operational space. If an element appears on a specialist drawing, make sure the proposed site plan does not show the former arrangement.
- Match doors and paths to the floor plan
- Match roof overhangs or canopies where material
- Show retained parking and turning honestly
- Update landscape and drainage drawings
- Review the application description if the design changes
Local requirements may differ. Check the current validation list for your planning authority before submitting.
Evidence checked 18 August 2026
Official sources and further reading
Planning requirements differ across the UK. The scope label on each source shows where it applies; always use the current rules for the authority receiving the application.
Questions people also ask
Must existing and proposed plans be separate files?
Not universally. Some authorities prefer separate sheets and others accept a clear comparison sheet, so follow the current upload and validation instructions.
Should both plans use the same scale?
Usually yes, because matching scale, crop and orientation make comparison more reliable. Explain any unavoidable difference clearly.
What if the base map is out of date?
Record the actual existing site using appropriate survey information rather than presenting outdated mapping as the current baseline.
Should demolition appear on the proposed plan?
The change must be unambiguous. Show removed work with a clear convention on an existing/demolition drawing or on the comparison, and ensure the proposed view shows the resulting final layout.
Ready to create your planning map?
Search by postcode or address, choose the scale and coverage, add your application boundary and download from UKPlanningMaps.com. For help with an unusual site, call 01856 898 022.
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