Making an Application
Three Rivers receives nearly all applications online and we recommend that you make your planning application via the Planning Portal. Registration is easy and you can complete your application form, upload supporting documents and pay fees online.
- The benefits of applying online include:
- Immediate delivery and acknowledgement
- Online help function when completing applications
- Online payment
- You can work on your applications in draft before submission
- Savings on postage and printing cost
If you prefer, you can submit your application along with supporting documents:
Via email: enquiries@threerivers.gov.uk
Via post: Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth.
Payment via phone: 01923 776611 (please note we no longer accept cheques)
Validation:
Validation Checklist (September 2021)
In accordance with national guidance published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Three Rivers District Council has created a list of local requirements for the validation of planning applications. This has been incorporated into a validation checklist which encompasses national requirements (including the application form, the correct fee, ownership certificates and other specific details) as well as local validation requirements.
Please note a planning application cannot be processed until all the necessary supporting information and the appropriate fee is received. The documents below must be submitted with any planning application but please see the Validation Checklist for more information as further documents may be required depending on the nature of the application.
National Requirements: Key documents
Application Form and Fees
Location Plan
Design and Access Guidance (pdf)
Local Requirements: Key documents (not available via Planning Portal)
Local Biodiversity Checklist (docx)
CIL Additional Information (Form 1) (pdf)
For all other CIL forms please click here.
Other:
Draft Unilateral Undertaking/Agreement (doc)
Draft Section 106 Agreement (doc)
Other important validation requirements:
Affordable Housing Requirement:
Application of Policy CP4 (Affordable Housing) – Part (a) and (e) (threerivers.gov.uk)
Energy Statement Requirement:
Policy CP1 of the adopted Core Strategy requires all applications for new residential development of one unit and above and all new commercial development to be accompanied by a CPLAN Energy Statement and Sustainability Checklist to demonstrate the extent to which sustainability principles have been incorporated into the location, design, construction and future use of proposals, and the expected carbon emissions.
The CPLAN Energy Statement and Sustainability Checklist will not be available from 21 March 2016. From this date, applicants will not be able to submit a CPLAN Energy and Sustainability Statement but should submit an Energy Statement demonstrating the extent to which relevant proposals meet the requirements of Policy DM4 of the Development Management Policies document which sets out that developments must produce at least 5% less carbon dioxide emissions than Building Regulations Part L (2013) requirements having regard to feasibility and viability. For building conversions, development proposals must still demonstrate that there would be an overall improvement in the energy performance of the building. Guidance on producing an Energy Statement is available at Guidance on producing an Energy Statement (pdf).
Drainage Strategy Requirement:
The Government has introduced a requirement for all major development proposals to include Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and details of drainage would be required as a Drainage Strategy. Guidance on requirements and providing Drainage Strategies is available from Hertfordshire County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority at https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/water/surface-water-drainage/surface-water-drainage.aspx