Planning applications

One Stop Service

Woking Borough Council operates a One Stop Service. This means that when you make contact with us we will endeavour to provide you with a timetable and guidance which steers you through all the regulatory processes necessary to deliver the completed development. Initial and general queries can be responded to over the phone on 01483 743843, by post, or email. (See also: advice on major applications, and below.)

A meeting is not needed to give initial or general advice. However if you intend to firm-up more specific development proposals we strongly recommend that you engage in preliminary meetings with a planning officer so that your planning permission can be determined in a timely manner in accordance with national performance targets. You may also wish to appoint a professional agent or adviser.

Applicants who submit applications without undertaking pre-application discussions, who do not complete such discussions or who do not follow advice given in pre-application meetings risk their application being refused without further notification.

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Do I need planning permission?

If you wish to know whether the work you want to do to your house needs planning permission, this must be checked in writing as there are complex regulations and checks to be undertaken. If you have had work done, you will also need a written response from us to prove that consent was not required when you come to sell your house. If you don't have this it may delay your sale. To simplify the process we ask that you fill in the Council's permitted development enquiry form.

The Government produces Planning: A Guide for Householders which provides general advice.

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General enquiries

Often written comments can be provided in place of a meeting to save time. Please send an email or write a letter to The Borough Planning Officer, Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking GU21 6YL. Most enquiries can be answered by letter or email but if the matter requires a meeting with a planning officer, then this request should be included in your communication and the planning officer will advise if a meeting would be helpful. You can contact the Planning Service on 01483 743843.

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Enquiries about specific sites

If you have a specific query about a current planning application for a particular address your query will be dealt with by the case officer who is dealing with the application. You can find out the name and telephone number of the relevant officer by using our PublicAccess for Planning service via the Internet or by phoning a planning administration assistant on 01483 743843. If an officer is not available please leave a message and they will call you back within 48 hours.

Using our PublicAccess for Planning service on the Internet you can:

  • see information on recently submitted planning applications and tree-work applications by selecting the Weekly List
  • search the list of current applications and comment on them.

If plans are available online for recently submitted applications you may also view them and make comments on them.

Frequently asked questions about PublicAccess for Planning

Personally sensitive information

Please bear in mind that any information you send to the Council in respect of applications for planning permission will normally be published on our public website and therefore will be viewable by anyone via the Internet.

If you consider any information to be "personally sensitive" - such as ex-directory phone numbers, etc. - please do not put such sensitive information in any documents you submit to the Council.

This note also applies to any type of communication about an application, for example letters, emails, etc. sent to the Council from neighbours or other interested parties.

Please view Public Consultation on Planning Applications - Your Rights to Make Your Views Known.

Please note that not all documents associated with a planning file may be available online. If certain documents are not available for inspection online for a particular case please phone 01483 743843. Documents can be made available for you to view at the Civic Offices. Please note there may be a charge for extracting and copying documents for previously determined applications.

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Viewing current planning applications

By using Woking Borough Council's online PublicAccess for Planning service on the Internet

You can search for information on:

  • details of recently-submitted applications planning applications and tree-work applications by selecting the Weekly List

  • applications that have not yet been determined

  • previously determined applications going back to 2004.

The following information is NOT available on PublicAccess for Planning - please use the following links:

If plans are available online for recently submitted applications you may also view them and make comments on them. The Council has produced a leaflet which explains how you can submit views on a planning application. This is available online.

Frequently asked questions about PublicAccess for Planning.

Visiting the Council's Civic Offices

When the application details are available online you can also, if you prefer, visit the Civic Offices between 9am to 4.45pm, Mondays to Fridays (Bank Holidays excluded) to view them at one of our public terminals. A member of our Customer Service Team will be available to assist you. 

Note: Customers will only be able to view recent planning applications online using our terminals at the Civic Offices because we shall no longer be able to provide paper copies of forms, letters and plans for this purpose. 

Via a terminal using PublicAccess for Planning you can search for information on:

  • details of recently-submitted planning applications and tree-work applications by selecting the Weekly List

  • applications that have not yet been determined

  • previously determined applications going back to 2004.

The following information is NOT available on PublicAccess for Planning - please use the following links:

If plans are available online for recently submitted applications you may also view them and make comments on them. The Council has produced a leaflet which explains how you can submit views on a planning application.

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Planning and telecommunications

Information about mobile phone masts, base stations, etc. and the planning process. 

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Meetings of the Planning Committee

You can view online calendar lists of Council committee meetings, including the Planning Committee:

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Planning appeals decided or outstanding

You can view a list of planning appeals which have been decided or are still outstanding for a decision from an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate. The list is updated weekly and includes brief details of Inspectors' decisions on cases where decisions have been made.

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Pre-application advice

Information on householder and major pre-application advice is available here.

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National Planning Portal

We link to the National Planning Portal, which is part of the common vision for improving the planning process in England and Wales. The Planning Portal provides guidance and information about making planning applications, resources for study and research and an online planning applications service for our customers to use.