What is outline planning permission?

Outline planning permission establishes the principle that development of a certain type is acceptable on a site, without approving the detailed design. Details are approved separately through "reserved matters" applications.

What are reserved matters?

Reserved matters are the details left over from an outline permission — typically access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale. A separate reserved matters application must be submitted (usually within 3 years of the outline permission) to approve these details.

Outline Planning Permission

Outline planning permission establishes the principle of development on a site without finalising all details. It is commonly used for larger residential or commercial sites where the developer wants to confirm the principle before committing to detailed design. Details are approved later through "reserved matters" applications.

Application Fee

£462

No VAT on planning fees

Decision Period

13 weeks for major applications, 8 weeks for minor

From date of validation

When to Use This Application Type

Use for larger development sites where you want to establish the principle of development before committing to detailed design. An outline application is typically followed by one or more reserved matters applications to approve the details.