You need planning permission for most forms of development. Planning law defines development as: "the carrying out of building ... in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land". All planning applications must be accompanied by certain information, including site plans derived from Ordnance Survey maps, a block plan showing the proposal in relation to the existing buildings on the site; the site boundaries; and adjoining properties at a scale of not less than 1:500 and drawings showing the proposal not only in plan form but also in elevation. There is a statutory charge of £206 plus a £20 administration fee to submit a planning application.

Your application will be submitted electronically via the Planning Portal, and cannot be registered until payment is received. For further planning permission information from Mid Sussex District Council, please click on the link: http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/8082.htm?pageid=314

Once your application has been accepted and registered, you will be provided with a planning notice to display on the site, in order to publicise the proposed development.

The officer assigned to the case will consider the application in detail with a view to a decision being reached within 8 weeks.The role of the case officer is to review the proposal in relation to current planning legislation and to consider comments received from neighbours, the general public, other council departments (eg. Highways), external agencies and the Town or Parish Council.

Following a decision taken by either the Head of Economic Promotion and Planning or the Area Planning Committees, you will be issued with a decision notice stating whether your application has been allowed or refused.

If the District Council refuses your planning application or fails to give you a decision within the eight week period, you have the right to appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment.You must appeal within six months of the date of decision. In the case of non determination you should appeal within six months of the eight week date. Appeals can be dealt with by written representations, hearing or public inquiry. In the latter two cases, evidence is presented to a planning inspector by the Council's planning officers.