Before you upload
Open the PDF and check every page at normal zoom. Confirm the site, address or title, red line, north arrow, scale bar and licence statement are visible.
File format and scale
PDF is the usual format for online submission. Keep the original sheet size and avoid converting through software that rasterises, compresses or resizes the plan.
After submission
Retain the source file and order reference. If the council raises a validation query, compare the wording with the map before making changes.
Portal acceptance and planning validation are separate
The online service can accept and transmit a file, but the planning authority validates the application. A successful upload therefore does not prove that the map scale, boundaries, licence, context or other local requirements are correct.
Prepare the final file before attaching it
Use a descriptive filename and open the issued PDF at its original page size. Confirm that the site address, north point, red and blue boundaries, scale bar, mapping acknowledgement and licence details are legible. Avoid scans and photographs where a clear original PDF is available.
- Correct site and application boundary
- Original sheet size retained
- No fit-to-page conversion or cropped margins
- Single, current drawing revision
- Accepted file format and manageable file size
- No unnecessary personal information on the sheet
Respond to a validation query precisely
If the authority requests a replacement, record its exact reason before editing. A missing access, broken red line, wrong site, insufficient road context, absent licence number and unreadable scale are different faults. Issue a clearly numbered revision and remove or label the superseded file so the drawing set cannot be confused.
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
Does the Portal create a location plan?
The Planning Portal may offer location-plan functionality in its process, or you can attach a separately sourced plan.
Will a photo of a paper map work?
A clean original PDF is safer because photos and scans can distort scale and reduce clarity.
Does uploading through the Planning Portal guarantee that my plan is valid?
No. The Portal handles the submission, while the planning authority checks the national and local validation requirements.
What is the safest file type for a location plan upload?
A correctly issued PDF is commonly used because it fixes the page layout, but check the Planning Portal's current accepted formats and the authority's own instructions.
Should I combine the location plan with other drawings?
Follow the authority's preference. Separate, clearly named PDFs can make revisions easier to control, while some authorities accept combined packs. Never let combining files resize the plan.
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.
Create your plan at UKPlanningMaps.com ↗