Planning and Building Control both process and determine applications in accordance with the requirements of Land Planning and Development Law and Building Regulations. This page provides information regarding submitting an application for planning permission and building control approval along with information regarding the application process.
Do I need Planning / Building Permission? offers advice and guidance regarding whether your proposals need permission.
Please note that applications for planning permission are separate to applications under Building Regulations.
Planning Application Form and Guidance
- Before you submit a planning application, check Do I need Planning / Building Permission?
- Planning permission will be required in all cases for changes to Protected Buildings unless the contrary is specifically stated in the exemption. It is recommended that you submit a
pre-application enquiry [731kb] if you propose to extend or alter a Protected Building.
- We have produced guidance regarding
- If you are not the owner of the property or land please ensure you have owner's authority. You will need to confirm that in the planning application.
- It is necessary for you to display a site notice to advertise your planning application. This will be sent to you on receipt of a valid planning application. Guidance regarding the completion and display of the notice is contained in
- You can track the progress of an application online and guidance is contained in
- Please note that planning application drawings will be available to view by members of the public after the decision has been reached and details are contained in
- If you wish to comment on a planning application then review commenting on or objecting to a planning application.
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Planning Application Fees
- Fees are charged for planning applications but the costs of this vary depending on the type of proposal, unless you are entitled to an exemption or concession. Fees can be paid in person at Sir Charles Frossard House by credit/debit card or cheques may be made payable to "The States of Guernsey". American Express, Diners Club or JCB cards cannot be accepted.
- The
- If you require assistance in order to calculate the correct application fee please contact the Duty Planning Officer.
Planning Application Decisions
- You can track the progress of an application online.
- See the
- All planning applications for development have to be dealt with consistently, in line with planning law and planning policies. The Island Development Plan 2016 contains the planning policies for the Island.
- A decision on a planning application can be made in one of two ways:
- 1) Delegated decision: The majority of planning applications are dealt with in this way, whereby authority to make the decision other than in certain specified circumstances is delegated by the Development and Planning Authority to the Head of the Planning Service.
- 2) Open Planning Meeting Decision: At political level, the decision is taken by the elected members of the Development and Planning Authority at their regular Open Planning Meetings. Applications decided upon in this way may, for example, be particularly contentious or involve a minor departure from the Authority's established policies. A Planning Officer will always make a formal recommendation and offer professional advice to support members in making their decision.
- There are a number of outcomes from the decision making process and once the decision has been made a decision notice is produced as soon as possible (usually within 3 working days) which is then sent to the applicant, or agent where one has been appointed. Our website will also be updated with a copy of the decision notice following its issue by post.
- i) Planning permission is granted: subject to conditions (including conditions limiting the period for which the permission is effective). A planning permission may have conditions attached which need to be complied with before works may commence (for example, details of landscaping may be required for approval). There is no fee for an application to discharge a condition. Planning approval normally runs with the land and conditions may continue to apply even once the development has been completed.
- ii) Outline permission is granted: subject to conditions (that is, planning permission subject to the reservation of particular matters for subsequent approval)
- iii) Planning permission is refused: as the applicant you have the right to appeal to the Planning Appeals Panel if you disagree with the decision to refuse your application, or a condition attached to a decision to permit your application.
Planning Appeals
- Further information regarding can be found here.
Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
- A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) is a document which sets out proposals and aims for managing the impacts of the construction phase of a development.
- CEMP is typically used for larger developments and the following are likely to require a CEMP:
- Any project requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or screening opinion under schedules 1 & 2 of the Land Planning and Development (Environmental Impact Assessment) Ordinance, 2007
- Significant industrial facilities that e.g. contain manufacturing processes
- Larger residential and commercial development projects (e.g. housing development of 20+ units of accommodation, office development of more than 1,000sq m)
- Any other project deemed by the Development & Planning Authority as presenting an environmental risk warranting a CEMP
- The purpose of a CEMP is to;
- Provide effective, site-specific procedures and mitigation measures to monitor and control environmental impacts throughout the construction phase of the project
- Ensure that construction activities so far as is practical do not adversely impact amenity, traffic or the environment in the surrounding area
- An advice note has been prepared by the Planning Service in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation (OEHPR). This provides technical guidance relating to the general aspects that should be considered within a CEMP.
- A CEMP is a public document and, once approved by the Authority, it will be made available to other parties on request. The effect of a development on the public (e.g. occupants of domestic residences and workplaces) is a key consideration of the CEMP but public consultation is not a requirement of the submission and responsibility remains with the Authority to determine the suitability of the CEMP. A CEMP is not intended to safeguard private interests from construction activities. Applicants/developers are, however, encouraged to engage with parties that are likely to be affected by their development and to provide information regarding the project and how it's impact will be managed
Site Waste Management Plan
- A Site Waste Management Plan is a framework which details the amount and type of waste that will be produced on a construction site and how it will be minimised, reduced, recycled on and off the site, and how the remaining waste will be disposed of, in order to ensure that appropriate environmental management practices are followed during the demolition and construction phases of development. The details in the Site Waste Management Plans provide valuable information so that the States can monitor what happens to construction waste, what barriers there may be to waste minimisation as well as informing the Island's future needs for waste disposal.
- If you are applying for planning permission for development which involves any of the following, you need to prepare a Site Waste Management Plan to submit with your planning application, and it will be necessary to provide information to the Development and Planning Authority (DPA) on completion of the development:
- ⇒Development of five or more dwellings;
- ⇒Any development with a minimum floorspace over 1,000 square metres;
- ⇒Any development that involves the demolition and redevelopment of a redundant building;
- ⇒Any development which involves the demolition and redevelopment of a dwelling which has planning permission to be subdivided;
- ⇒A replacement dwelling on a one for one basis.
Minor Amendments to Planning Permissions
- In some instances it may be necessary or desirable to amend details approved as part of a planning permission, please see
- Please note that this procedure relates only to cases where the development has started in accordance with a valid planning permission or development has not started and the period allowed for a start has not expired.
- You may wish to submit a
- If you are not the owner of the property or land please ensure you have owner's authority. Please submit the completed and signed
- A request for a minor amendment must be made in writing, please ensure that:
- ⇒ a covering letter includes details of the proposed changes
- ⇒ two copies of the amended plans are provided with your request
- ⇒ the proposed changes are clearly highlighted on the submitted plans
Mix, type and internal space standards for new dwellings
- In accordance with planning policies in the Island Development Plan, 2016, where housing proposals can accommodate a variety of dwellings, it will normally be expected that the mix and type of dwellings is reflective of the demographic profile of households requiring housing. The mix and type of dwellings required will be informed by the most up to date information available, such as Housing Needs Studies and other evidence.
- More information on the current housing mix and type requirements (September 2019) can be found here:
- The Department for Communities & Local Government document - Technical housing standards - nationally described space standard - can be found here:
- This DCLG standard deals with internal space within new dwellings. The standard does not apply specifically in Guernsey but represents current best practice in England and should therefore be considered when developing new housing in Guernsey under the policies of the IDP. Please note that paragraph 9 is not relevent to Guernsey due to differences in the Building Regulations between the jurisdictions.
Dower Units/Annexe Accommodation
- IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the guidance in this section is currently under review. The guidance document in this section relates to the policies of the superseded Urban Area Plan and Rural Area Plan and may not be relevant or consistent with the policies of the newly adopted Island Development Plan 2016. Please refer to the relevant policies and Annexes of the Island Development Plan 2016 and contact the Planning Service should you require further information before submitting a planning application.
Change of Use of Visitor Accommodation
Minor/Occasional Use as guest accommodation
- There is provision for you to operate a bed and breakfast from your home (your permanent residence) without requiring planning permission for a change of use.
- The primary use of the dwelling should remain as your home and in addition there must not be a material change of use of the property having regard to the number of rooms in use for bed and breakfast purposes and comings and goings associated with this use.
- For example, one bedroom in a three bedroom dwelling could be used for bed and breakfast accommodation without resulting in a material change of use requiring planning permission. Use of two bedrooms and a separate sitting/dining room for bed and breakfast accommodation would require planning permission as this would amount to a material change of use of the dwelling.
- Your home (your permanent residence) can be used as a holiday let, for example if you rent your house out when you are on holiday away from the Island, for up to a maximum of ten weeks over the course of a single year on the proviso that no single let shall exceed 28 days' duration.
- Please note
- ⇒ there may be a separate requirement for a Boarding Permit from the Committee for Economic Development and it is recommended you contact them regarding your proposals.
- ⇒ a separate enquiry should also be made to Building Control to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations before the use commences.
Development within Agriculture Priority Areas which is not for agriculture purposes
- Agriculture Priority Areas (APAs) encompass Guernsey's most valuable large areas of contiguous agricultural land and other areas well related to established agricultural operations. The APA's are not intended to safeguard land for agricultural use if it is not appropriate or not required for that purpose. Whilst the focus in these areas is generally to support agricultural operations, the APAs are broadly drawn and include areas of land and sites which are not currently used for agricultural purposes and could not be expected to contribute positively to commercial agriculture in the future. Policies therefore allow for other forms of development where this would not have an unacceptable impact on commercial agriculture. Although APA's are not protected exclusively for agricultural use and agricultural development, within these areas particular consideration should be given to the impact of proposed development on agriculture.
- Island Development Plan policies allow for the principle of extension, alteration and redevelopment of some existing uses falling within APAs, where this is within their existing curtilages. In some instances, specifically Policies OC7, OC8(B), OC9, GP15 and IP1, provision of other forms of development within or adjacent to the identified APAs may be acceptable where it is demonstrated that the site cannot positively contribute to the commercial agricultural use of an identified APA or cannot practically be used for commercial agricultural use without adverse environmental impacts (for example by having to demolish hedge banks or landscape features). These policies however place the onus on the applicant to demonstrate this requirement.
- When assessing if a particular site or land parcel can make a positive contribution to the commercial agricultural use of an identified APA, the following matters could be taken into account:
- What the requirements of the agricultural industry are at the time;
- The condition of the land (e.g. the grade and depth of the soil, any contamination, whether it is able to be used for agriculture or if not what may be required to make it available for cultivation or grazing);
- Whether the land can be used for agriculture without adverse environmental impacts;
- The size of the site/piece of land;
- How the site/piece of land relates to existing agricultural holdings;
- Access;
- Topography (including slope, gradient, etc);
- Flooding/Drainage;
- The nature of the proposed use (will the proposed use allow the long term use of the land for agriculture to remain).
- The above list is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be exhaustive.
Planning Use Classes
- It is recommended you submit a
- If you are not the owner of the property or land please ensure you have owner's authority. Please submit the completed and signed
- The current Planning Use Classes are found in
- Information on planning exemptions for; industrial and storage and distribution change of use proposals are found in Class 6, and for administrative, financial and professional use classes in Class 9 of
Al-fresco Licence Applications
- Applications for "al-fresco" licences are made to the Royal Court under the Public Highways (Temporary Closure) Ordinance, 1999, as amended (the "Ordinance").
- The al-fresco licence application must contain the following:
- (a) the full name and address of the applicant;
- (b) the location of the area of the public highway for which the application is made ("proposed area"); and
- (c) full details of-
- I. the purpose,
- II. the hours of the day, and
- III. the days of the year,
- for which the "al-fresco" licence is being sought.
- Under the Ordinance, at least 28 clear days prior to the date in which the application is made to the Royal Court, an applicant must send a notice containing specific details (see below) of the proposal to:
- ⇒ The Parish Constables of the Parish in which the proposed area is located
- ⇒ The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure - Traffic & Highway Services (located at Bulwer Avenue, St Sampson)
- ⇒ The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure - Planning Service (located at Sir Charles Frossard House, St Peter Port)
- ⇒ The Health and Safety Executive (on behalf of the Committee for Economic Development) (located at Raymond Falla House, St Martin)
- ⇒ The Committee for Home Affairs (located at Sir Charles Frossard House, St Peter Port)
- The details to be supplied include:
- 1) A plan, drawn to scale, showing the proposed dimensions and layout of the proposed area, indicating positioning of tables, seating and other items of furniture and any means of marking the extent of the proposed area;
- 2) A full description of the tables, seating and other items of furniture proposed to be placed in the proposed area, which may include photographs, drawings or other visual representations;
- 3) Full details of any proposed screening, awnings or other means of enclosure and of any other fixtures and fittings;
- 4) Full details of the date and time of the proposed application.
- On two weekly occasions prior to the proposed application, an applicant shall cause a notice to be published in La Gazette Officielle setting out the details required in the notice above and a statement indicating that further details of the proposed application, including plans, may be inspected at the premises of the Constables of the Parish in which the proposed area is situated.
- Unless an "al-fresco" licence is already in force in respect of the proposed area, an applicant shall cause a notice containing the details set out in the Gazette Notice to be affixed on or near premises in the vicinity of the proposed area in question in such a manner as to be easily read by a person in a public place adjacent to those premises for 14 clear days prior to the date of the proposed application. An applicant in respect of a proposed area which is not adjacent to premises over which he exercises control is not required to comply with this requirement.
- The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure will, along with the other bodies mentioned above to which notice must be sent, provide reports for presentation to the Royal Court. Notice should be sent separately to Traffic & Highway Services (located at Bulwer Avenue, St Sampson) and the Planning Service (located at Sir Charles Frossard House) and separate reports will be provided by those Services on behalf of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure.
- The general aim of al-fresco licensing is to increase the enjoyment of locations for visitors and residents by providing additional facilities and improving the atmosphere and attractiveness of outdoor areas. It is intended that outdoor seating and dining areas should provide safe, high quality facilities without undue clutter and without detracting from the character and pleasantness of an area.
- Potential matters to be addressed in reports provided by Traffic & Highway Services and the Planning Service on behalf of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure may include:
- ⇒ Maintaining unobstructed access for pedestrians and other traffic
- ⇒ Maintaining unobstructed emergency exits/means of escape from buildings
- ⇒ Adequacy of toilet facilities
- ⇒ Avoiding hazard to public safety
- ⇒ Visual impact of an al fresco facility in the location proposed
- ⇒ Extent and means of marking of the al fresco area
- ⇒ Design and appearance of tables, seating and other items of furniture
- ⇒ Details of any proposed screening, awnings or other means of enclosure
- ⇒ Avoiding poor quality, cluttered or obtrusive elements
- ⇒ Controls on signage or other advertising material
- ⇒ Ensuring that approved items are removed outside of the permitted al fresco period
- The above is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Applicants are advised to refer to the relevant Legislation; link to the Guernsey Legal Resources website: The Public Highways (Temporary Closure) Ordinance, 1999.
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
- IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note the guidance in this section is under review following the change in government structure and will be updated shortly.
- Since April 2009, it has been a legal requirement in Guernsey for certain types of development project to undergo EIA
Contaminated Land Guidance
- This guidance has been provided by The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation (OEHPR), in relation to planning applications involving contaminated land.
Building Control Guidance
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- Choosing Traders and Service Providers
- We are unable to advise the public on which builder or service provider to undertake building work. However when choosing builders and other service providers you may wish to consider the following general advice:
- ⇒ Start with referrals from family or friends who have recently had work done
- ⇒ Obtain estimates in writing from two or three builders and ask them to confirm whether planning permission is required. You can also make your own enquiries with us.
- ⇒ Ask each builder for two or three references from previous customers, contact these people and find out how happy they were with the work carried out and the builder's conduct. Ask to see examples of work undertaken and if possible view some completed work.
- ⇒ Ensure the builder belongs to a respected trade organisation which has membership standards and requirements. Contact the trade organisation to ensure the membership is current.
- ⇒ You should make an agreement or contract in writing with your builder that outlines the work to be done, date of completion, security and safety, catering and lavatory arrangements, disposal of waste materials, hours of work and so on.
- ⇒ Ask to see the builder's public liability insurance certificate. Please note that building work may affect your home and contents insurance so contact your own insurance company.
- ⇒ Deposits are usually only payable where specific or custom-made materials are required or where the project will take a long time to complete. Agree a payment schedule in writing.
Building Control Application Forms
- Please Note that applications under the Building Regulations are separate to applications for planning permission.
- Before you submit an application you should establish whether you actually need to make an application for a licence under the Building Regulations, please check Do I need Planning / Building Permission? for information about 'exempt buildings and work' which are listed in
- If you are not the owner of the property or land please ensure you have owner's authority. Please submit the completed and signed
- You will need to use a different form depending on the type of work you are carrying out:
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Building Control Application Fees
- Fees are charged for Building Regulatiomn applications but the costs of this vary depending on the type of proposal, unless you are entitled to an exemption or concession. Fees can be paid in person at Sir Charles Frossard House by credit/debit card or cheques may be made payable to "The States of Guernsey". American Express, Diners Club or JCB cards cannot be accepted.
- If you require assistance in order to calculate the correct application fee please contact the Duty Building Control Officer.
Building Regulations, Technical Standards and associated documents
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BUILDING CONTROL WATER USE CALCULATOR (Excel 2007) [144kb]
