We're inviting residents and interested individuals to comment on our updated planning 'Local Validation Checklist'.
What a Validation Checklist is
A Validation Checklist is a document published by a council's Local Planning Authority (LPA). It tells applicants what information and documents they need to submit with a planning application.
A good Validation Checklist:
- gives applicants certainty about what they need to provide before submitting an application
- reduces delays caused by requesting missing information from applicants
The checklist document is made up of 2 parts – national and local validation checklists.
Part 1: National Validation Checklist
The national validation requirements are set by central government. These are followed by all LPAs in England.
Part 2: Local Validation Checklist
The local validation requirements are produced by individual LPAs. It sets out the additional information required for different types of planning applications, on top of the national validation requirements.
We are required by law to review our Local Validation Checklist every 2 years.
What we want you to comment on
We're seeking your comments on updates to our Local Validation Checklist only.
We have:
- reviewed our local list and propose some small changes – these are mainly related to the National Planning Policy Framework which was significantly updated in August 2026
- reviewed the validation requirements to make sure that they remain proportionate
- checked that all guidance weblinks are up to date
The overall structure of the checklist remains the same, with separate lists for each application type of application.
Read or download the Draft Validation Checklist.
The consultation period is open for 6 weeks until 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.
How to submit your comments
You can submit your comments to us by email.
To help us recognise your email, please use ‘Local Validation Checklist – consultation comments’ in the subject line.
Email: developmentmanagement@woking.gov.uk
How we will use your feedback
We will consider comments received and, where appropriate, amend the checklist. We will then publish an updated local validation checklist on our website.