Get a quicker planning decision: fast track service

Types of applications you can fast track

You can fast track:

• householder applications
• lawful development certificate householder applications for proposed developments
• applications for discharge of a condition – only for a single condition that doesn't require consultation with external parties

You can't fast track an application for a listed building.

Guaranteed decision times

We will issue a decision within a guaranteed timeframe, provided all conditions have been met.

Householder applications

• Validation: up to 3 days
• Site visit assessment: up to 21 days (when required)
• Decision:
  • up to 30 days from validation if the property is not in a conservation area
  • up to 46 days from validation if the property is in a conservation area

Lawful development certificate householder applications (proposed)

• Validation: up to 3 days
• Site visit assessment: up to 10 days (when required)
• Decision: up to 10 days from validation

Discharge of conditions applications

• Validation: up to 3 days
• Decision: up to 10 days from validation

Fees

The fast track fee is:

• £500 for householder applications
• £250 for lawful development certificate applications
• £250 for discharge of conditions applications

This fee is in addition to the fee to submit your planning application.

You need to pay the fast track fee directly to us – you can’t pay it via the Planning Portal.

Delays and refunds

In the unlikely event that we don’t make a decision within the guaranteed decision times, we will give you a full refund of the fast track fee, except if the delay was caused by any of the following (in which case we will not issue any refund):

• fee payment delay – the fast track fee was not paid within 1 week of validation or payment was submitted with an incorrect reference number
• submission error – incorrect information was provided, requiring corrections or reconsultation
• call-in request – a valid ‘call-in’ request was made by ward councillors and the application had to be determined at the next available committee meeting
• applicant response delay – the applicant failed to respond within 2 working days to a case officer’s request regarding pre-commencement planning conditions

How to submit and pay for your fast track request

To request the fast track service, you need to:

• prepare your documents following the “guidelines for documents” below
• submit your application online through the Planning Portal
• include the words "Fast Track" at the start of the proposal description on your application – for example, “(Fast Track) Erection of a single-storey rear extension”
• email us at planning@merton.gov.uk immediately after submitting your application, including:
  • “Fast Track” in the subject line.
  • your Planning Portal reference number (which you received when you submitted your application).
  • a phone number where we can reach you to process the payment.

You must pay the fast track fee no later than 1 week after the application validation date (the date of the acknowledgement email).

We will contact you to take your payment after we receive your email.

No amendments can be made to the application after you submit it.

Guidelines for documents

Follow these guidelines when submitting documents, plans and drawings with your application:

• Submit all necessary documents ‘in one go’ with your application
• Drawings must be A3 size or smaller. We will not accept A2, A1, or A0-sized drawings, and your application will be invalid if submitted in these sizes.
• Maximum file sizes:
  • individual files: 5MB
  • whole application: 25MB
• Accepted file types:
  • drawings: PDF
  • other files: JPG, DOC, XLS
• Categorise your drawings by type, as shown on the Planning Portal
• Drawings must be to scale and include key dimensions. They must use conventional metric scales (such as 1:1250, 1:500, 1:200, 1:100) and include a scale bar that refers to the paper size, for example: “1:100 on A3”.
• Title all drawings clearly – for example “Existing and Proposed Front Elevation” and include a drawing number.
• Show ‘existing’ and ‘proposed’ drawings side by side with the same scale.
• Include annotated dimensions on floor plans, site plans, elevation drawings, and section plans.
• Each plan or drawing must have a title box stating:
  • address and proposal
  • drawing title (e.g., "existing rear elevation," "proposed first floor plan")
  • date, scale, drawing number, and revision details.
• Fully annotate each plan or drawing. For example, label a line between two properties as “boundary fence” and provide distances from boundaries.
• The red line on the site location plan must encompass all land necessary for the development
• Include a North arrow on all plans.
• Avoid including personal or sensitive data on any documents or drawings (e.g., telephone numbers, email addresses, signatures, car registrations, or photos of people).
• For the purposes of your planning application ‘existing’ means the current situation when submitting your application.
• If planning permission or a lawful development certificate has been granted for a proposal (or part of) for which work has not yet commenced, these works (including the reference number) must be included in the proposed plans or drawings and must form part of the application description.

Pre-commencement planning conditions

In some circumstances, a pre-commencement planning condition may be necessary to make your proposals acceptable. Where the case officer has requested your agreement to a pre-commencement planning condition your response must be received within 2 working days. If a lack of response from you is the sole reason for the fast-track decision date not being met the fee will not be refundable.