Ask before commissioning the revised package
Explain what you want to change and why. The relevant question is whether the council can properly assess the revised proposal within the existing application, not simply whether the drawing file is easy to replace. Kingston's guidance distinguishes amendments that can be handled from those needing a new application. [1]
Send a short change schedule before undertaking extensive redesign. Identify the affected drawings, supporting reports and development description. Ask whether the officer is willing to consider that scope of revision and what submission deadline would be workable.
Minor correction or different proposal?
Correcting an inconsistency is different from changing the project's scale, use or relationship with neighbouring land. A revision can also affect information already supplied, even if the changed drawing looks small. The council must consider whether consultation remains adequate and whether interested people have a fair opportunity to respond. [2]
Avoid assuming that reducing one dimension makes every accompanying change acceptable. For example, a revised roof may reduce height while moving a window or altering the appearance. Review the whole revision rather than presenting only its most favourable feature.
Reconsultation and timing
Further consultation may be necessary where the changes raise new or different issues. The council determines the appropriate publicity in the circumstances. Accepting revised plans therefore does not necessarily preserve the original decision date. [2]
Where extra time is needed, agree it expressly in writing and keep the new deadline. Do not assume that uploading a revised plan automatically restarts the statutory clock or that silence means the revision has been accepted. [3]
Submit one coordinated version
Provide a covering note identifying each change, a drawing register and clearly numbered revisions. Update any statement or report that relies on the earlier design. Ask the council to confirm which files now form the application under consideration.
Check the public register once the replacement material is published. Retain the earlier submission for the audit trail and confirm that the design team is working from the same current version.
The council may decide not to negotiate further
Local procedures can limit the opportunity for amendments during determination. Islington's published process explains its approach to assessing applications and dealing with necessary information or changes. There is no guaranteed entitlement to unlimited redesign within one application. [4]
If the council will not accept the proposed revision, compare withdrawal and a fresh application with obtaining a decision on the submitted scheme. After permission is granted, the separate amendment procedures apply; an informal pre-decision drawing exchange cannot be used to change an issued approval. [1][5]