Once an application has been deemed valid and the determination process commences, the application is placed on the planning register and given an application reference number. Normally, most minor and small-scale applications should be validated within three to five working days from the date of receipt.

Approval of building plans Submit three (3) completed copies of the drawings along with an application form available from the Town and Country Planning Division. Applicants should check with the relevant Municipal Corporation (Building and Inspector's Office) two (2) weeks after receiving an acknowledgement letter.

The Application for Outline Planning Permission form is generally used to find out, at an early stage, whether or not a proposal is likely to be approved by the planning authority, before any substantial costs are incurred. This type of planning application allows fewer details about the proposal to be submitted.

Validation represents a decision by the local planning authority on an application and associated information starting its determination of whether to grant or refuse planning permission.

What is outline planning permission? Outline planning permission, as the name suggests, is much less detailed than full planning permission. By applying for it, you are asking the local planning authority to agree to the principle of development – with the specifics (called “reserved matters”) put aside until later.

Once the application is complete, it will be entered onto the statutory register. We will send you the application number and an estimated date by which we aim to make a decision. This is either 8, 13 or 16 weeks later, depending on the type of application.

The Validation Process This process normally takes up to 5 days. If an application is valid, a written acknowledgement will be provided, together with confirmation of the statutory determination period for the application.