Submitting a planning application

Online applications

Planning applications can be submitted online via the Planning Portal (recommended).

Please note; to submit a planning application via the Planning Portal you will need to register on its website. This is a straight forward process, which you will only need to do once.

Alternatively you can complete the form electronically and email to the planning team, or post to Planning Services, Boston Borough Council, Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston, PE21 8QR - please note that paper submissions and cheque payment now incur an administration fee (see Fees and Charges below). 

Any application submitted electronically, outside of the council's business hours (i.e. 8.45am-5.15pm Mon-Thurs and 8.45am - 4.45pm Fri), will be treated as being received the following working day, in accordance with the Development Management Procedure Order 2015 (as amended).

Validation Requirements

We follow national standards for application validation. We also have a local validation list, adopted in early 2019, which is a guidance document but not a formal requirement.

In addition, officers work proactively with applicants and agents throughout the planning process to ensure that we are able to make informed decisions and to seek to provide solutions where possible. We also continue to offer and encourage use of our pre-application services which can be useful to establish what information is likely to be required to accompany an application, as a further means of avoiding unnecessary costs.

In combination, these measures aim to support development across the borough which can provide a boost for the area as we recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Biodiversity Net Gain

Mandatory requirements in relation to Biodiversity net gain (BNG) come into force for major applications received from 12 February 2024 and all small sites received from 2 April 2024. 

BNG is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand. 

See 'Biodiversity Net Gain' section for more information.