I sometimes think we should have a "useful tips before you submit a planning application" sticky here. On it would be things like, before you submit an application, or seek planning advice, do the following:
- Fill in any ponds that might possibly contain Great Crested Newts
- Remove the roof from any structure on site that might possibly house bats
- Remove any indication of there ever having been oil tanks or any other form of hazardous substance from the site.
- Fell all and any trees that you think might possibly restrict what you want to do.
- Run a bulldozer over the site to scrape the topsoil clear and remove any evidence of there ever having been a trace of anything of ecological value there.
- If you suspect there could be archaeology, dig down to a depth as deep as your foundations will be over any area you may have to excavate as a part of the build.
- grub up and remove any old hedges that might be in the way, lest they contain nesting birds, dormice etc that could impact your application adversely.
(the above was written tongue-in-cheek, but I'd suggest that doing all, or some, of it would save a lot of self-builders a great deal of money...................)