Understanding Location Plans

When submitting a planning application, your Local Authority needs to clearly identify the proposed development site and understand its relationship to surrounding areas. A location plan serves this critical purpose by providing an accurate, scaled map that shows exactly where your project will take place.

Why Location Plans Matter

Local Planning Authorities require location plans to:

• Precisely identify the land included in your application

• Understand how your development relates to neighbouring properties and infrastructure

• Verify site access points and connections to public highways

• Ensure all necessary land is included in the application boundary

Planda Portal's location plan tool simplifies this process by guiding you through boundary definition, map generation, and document creation, all within one streamlined workflow.

Understanding Site Boundaries

The Red Line Boundary

Your red line boundary defines the primary development site. This single boundary must encompass:

• The main development area

• All access routes to public roads

• Associated infrastructure (parking areas, driveways, pathways)

• Ancillary structures (garages, sheds, outbuildings)

• Gardens and outdoor spaces are integral to the development

Important: Regardless of your development type (residential, commercial, or rural) you must clearly show how the site connects to existing road networks and the public highway.

The Blue Line Boundary

Use blue line boundaries to indicate any additional land you own that sits near or adjacent to the development site, even if it's not part of the proposed works. You may have zero, one, or several blue line boundaries depending on your property holdings.

Technical Requirements for Valid Location Plans

Your location plan must meet specific standards to be accepted by Local Planning Authorities:

Scale and Format

• Standard metric scale: 1:1250 for typical sites, 1:2500 for larger developments

• Document size: A4 or A3

• North arrow clearly indicated

Map Content

• Site boundaries clearly marked (red line for main site, blue line for additional owned land)

• Surrounding context including nearby roads and buildings

• All land required for site access highlighted

How to Create Your Site Boundary

Planda Portal offers two options for defining your site boundary, allowing you to choose the approach that best suits your workflow. We currently don't support file upload but it's coming soon!

Option 1: Auto Boundary Selection

The autofill tool automatically detects property boundaries:

1. Select the autofill tool from the drawing options

2. The system will highlight the detected boundary

3. Click within any enclosed areas to include them

4. Select 'Confirm Site' to confirm

If the result isn't accurate, use 'Reset site' to start over.

Option 2: Free hand Drawing Tool

For precise control over your boundary definition:

1. Select the freehand drawing tool

2. Click once at any corner of your site to create the first point

3. Continue clicking at each corner - each click creates a new point connected by a boundary line

4. Work around the perimeter until your boundary is complete

5. Avoid overlapping or duplicating boundary lines

Use 'Reset site' if you need to start fresh.

Reviewing Your Location Plan

Before finalising your location plan, verify it includes:

✓ Complete red line boundary around the main development site
✓ Blue line boundaries around any additional owned land (if applicable)
✓ At minimum: one named road plus a landmark, or ideally two or more named roads
✓ Adequate surrounding context to orient the site
✓ Correct scale appropriate for your site size

Large or Irregular Sites

For sites exceeding 10 hectares or with irregular shapes:

• The 1:2500 scale accommodates up to 22 hectares on A4 paper

• This larger scale is particularly suited to rural developments and extensive projects

• Ensure your boundary remains clear and accurate even at the broader scale

Confirming and Accessing Your Plan

Your Responsibility

You bear responsibility for the accuracy of your boundary definitions. During the review stage, carefully verify that:

• All boundaries correctly represent your site

• Access points are properly included

• Surrounding context is sufficient for Local Authority assessment

If you're uncertain about your plan's suitability, contact your Local Planning Authority before proceeding.

After Submission

You can modify your location plan throughout the application process. Once you've submitted your application, access your location plan anytime from your main applications dashboard.

Location Plan Example

Location Plans vs. Site Plans

Important distinction: A location plan shows where your development sits within the broader area. A site plan (or block plan) provides detailed information about what's happening within the site boundaries themselves. These are separate documents serving different purposes in your application.

Ready to Create Your Location Plan?

Ready to create your location plan? When you begin using Planda Portal's boundary tool, you'll see your site marked with a blue pin based on the postcode or grid reference you provided earlier in your application. From there, simply choose your preferred drawing method and follow the steps outlined above.

Need assistance? Your Local Planning Authority can provide guidance on local-level requirements beyond the national standards we've covered here.