At the moment, under existing United Kingdom legislation, anyone can apply to develop a piece of land. Upon application, there does not need to be any declaration regarding the ownership of adjacent pieces of land but as with any application, proper planning maps need to be used to give the exact location of the land and where on that land the proposed development is going to be placed.
Whether the applicant is applying for one or multiple applications in the same place, they are under no obligation to consolidate them all into one application. When separate applications are made, an individual planning map must be used for each application. Upon gaining outline planning permission approval, the statement of purpose for the specific site as shown in the planning map can be changed in anticipation of full approval. Until you are given full planning permission to carry out building works, you may not begin operations. Commencing before proper approval could lead to your works being demolished by the local planning authority and having to go through the whole planning permission process again.
Planning maps are an essential component in the planning process and many of the UKs local planning authorities have gone into partnership with online map providers so that they have access to accurate maps. The mapping service providers are able to offer a number of views including aerial photography and Ordnance Survey maps which can be combined to give full views of the area relating to the planning application.
There are many aspects to be considered when a planning application is submitted and one important one is, the type of development and where it is going to be. For instance, if an application comes in where the location is near a river, both the applicant and the planning office need to know whether the land is flood plain or if it is likely to be at risk of flooding as this can have a major bearing on whether permission is granted or not. There are areas near rivers that have never flooded so proper research needs to be done beforehand. Using online flood maps which show areas prone to flooding can give such information which will give the applicant the chance to decide whether or not to submit their application or to modify it so that it would be unaffected.
With the growing requirement for affordable housing due to expanding population, divorce rates and economic reasons, the need for housing development is rising. Local housing associations have an increasing number of people on their books waiting for properties to become available and as such, there is now a need to develop non residential land and as such, land that may be considered inappropriate, such as flood plain, could be made available. This is why planning maps must be available so that the right location is found and that any protected areas, such as green belt, are avoided. Online mapping services offer access to a range of maps which are a valuable resource when making decisions regarding planning applications for both applicants and planners.
