What do they actually want when they ask for samples of materials?

[neach-togail]

We've got a plot and planning permission has been granted, but they've added the following stipulation:

 

Quote

Prior to the commencement of development, the following details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority:
a) Details and samples of all proposed external materials;
b) Details of the materials of the window frames;
c) Details of the colour of the window frames;
d) Details of the materials of all doors;
e) Details of the colour of all doors;
f) Details of the proposed air source heat pump;
g) Details of the materials of all areas of hardstanding;
h) Details of the position, design, materials, dimensions and finish of all walls, fences, gates or other means of enclosure;
i) Proposals for the treatment and disposal of foul and surface water drainage from the proposed houses;
j) Details of a scheme of landscaping for the site. Details shall include the a planting schedule with plant species, sizes and landscape specification, including ground preparation, topsoil, subsoil, soil ameliorants, pot sizes/ root condition for trees and hedging, details of planting density and/or numbers, and details of plant protection;
k) Details of a sustainability/biodiversity scheme for the site, including the provision of house bricks and boxes for bats and swifts and small mammal passage points in any fencing; and
l) Existing and finished ground levels for all buildings and open space in relation to a fixed datum.

Now, i through l make sense. But for a through h, how much detail are they looking for here? For a wall, I can give them a brick to look at sure, but what about windows? Do I have to order a very small window of the same style we plan on using and show them it? What if that product stops being offered by the time we need to order it? Or the price increases and we can't afford that one? Or what if we just change our minds? 

 

It seems very unclear what we need to commit to _exactly_ and what we need to show them vs what we have some control over through the build. Can anyone give any guidance here? Thanks!

 

Edit: In case it wasn't obvious from my username, I'm in Scotland, in case that changes anything. 

Edited January 30 by neach-togail

[nod]

Normally you can just list the make and colour of bricks slates etc Most manufacturers have pretty detailed websites 

[neach-togail]

1 hour ago, nod said:

Normally you can just list the make and colour of bricks slates etc Most manufacturers have pretty detailed websites 

We've got requirements of "natural stone" for example. Does that change things? 

[nod]

Not really 

Our current build is out in the country so not many restrictions 

But our previous build was part of a listed site and came under Heritage remit 

They asked for brick slate render stone sample Even sash windows 

Our Architect said please font fill my office full of bloody bricks 

But it might be worth having samples in case they insist But as I said previously All have very detailed websites If they hate the stone that you are using Having it in there hand probably won’t change that 

They tend to ask for local 

[Blooda]

If you look on the LA planning for previous applications you should find examples of what others have submitted,

 

 

[flanagaj]

On 31/01/2025 at 09:56, Blooda said:

If you look on the LA planning for previous applications you should find examples of what others have submitted,

 

 

But that's a condition, not a planning submission document.  Are documents related to conditions available on the planning portal?

[DevilDamo]

On 29/05/2025 at 19:59, flanagaj said:

But that's a condition, not a planning submission document.  Are documents related to conditions available on the planning portal?

All Planning applications are uploaded online.

[flanagaj]

1 hour ago, DevilDamo said:

All Planning applications are uploaded online.

Agreed.  But in my experience, that is a condition not a document that is for planning.  I could be completely wrong, but I didn't think documents submitted for discharging a condition was also uploaded to the planning portal?

[G and J]

25 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

didn't think documents submitted for discharging a condition was also uploaded to the planning portal?

Ours were

[flanagaj]

3 minutes ago, G and J said:

Ours were

Ok, thanks for clarifying that.

 

[TerryE]

On 31/01/2025 at 00:40, neach-togail said:

We've got requirements of "natural stone" for example. Does that change things? 

Our LPA were a bit arsey on this.  Our old farmhouse next door and the listed cottage across the street were made of the locally quarried stone.  The PA told that they would turn down flat reconstituted stone or machine cut stone because it wasn't character.  We need a 1×1 m sample stone panel plus sample slate, and bricks used for the chimney and eve detailing.  We used the sample to make up when we put up the porch plinth. 🤣 

[DevilDamo]

2 hours ago, flanagaj said:

I didn't think documents submitted for discharging a condition was also uploaded to the planning portal?

Have a search on your LPA’s website for DoC applications and you will see what is uploaded. The uploaded information is not that dis-similar to that of any other application. It’s in the public realm.

[DevilDamo]

2 hours ago, flanagaj said:

I didn't think documents submitted for discharging a condition was also uploaded to the planning portal?

https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000Dd8KnIAJ/pl202503533?tabset-8903c=2

 

If that doesn’t work, go onto the Wiltshire Planning pages and search for application no. PL/2025/03533.

[flanagaj]

44 minutes ago, DevilDamo said:

Have a search on your LPA’s website for DoC applications and you will see what is uploaded. The uploaded information is not that dis-similar to that of any other application. It’s in the public realm.

Thanks.  So they are not uploaded against the original planning application?  

[Great_scot_selfbuild]

2 hours ago, G and J said:

Ours were

@flanagaj Our planning condition submissions were also published on the council site, though this is inconsistent as they haven't always uploaded the condition documents. External Finishes_Planning Condition_Buildhub example.docxI've attached the document I wrote to submit my examples of external surfaces.

[DevilDamo]

23 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

Thanks.  So they are not uploaded against the original planning application?  

It depends upon the LPA.