What is the Validation Document?

The Validation Document sets out the information and documents required to accompany planning applications submitted to Worcestershire County Council, as the County Planning Authority for minerals, waste management and the County Council’s own development.  

This gives greater certainty on what information is required for applications of a particular type, scale or location, helping to make things simpler for those looking to apply for planning permission, but also allows the County Council to accept, validate and determine applications more efficiently, reducing delays that may otherwise occur in the processing of planning applications.

Should you be seeking to find out what information is required to accompany planning applications for all other types of developments such as residential (e.g. housing estates), householder (e.g. extensions), retail (e.g. shops) or commercial (e.g. offices) then please contact your District Council. 

The Validation Document

The latest version of Validation Document, was published in June 2025, following a light touch review of the document to reflect the recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024 and 2025 updates). This follows on from the detailed updates made to the Validation Document in 2024, after the adoption of the Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan as well as the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (2023 version), and Biodiversity Net Gain legislation and associated guidance. The revisions to the document were consulted on between 10 July and 5 September 2023 and again between 29 January and 11 March 2024. A total of 30 comments were received, which have been considered in detail by the County Council. 

The Validation Document (June 2025 version) consists of: 

• Planning Validation Document - Main Body (PDF)
• Checklist 1: County Council's own developments (PDF)
• Checklist 2: Outline planning applications (PDF)
• Checklist 3: Mineral working (PDF)
• Checklist 4: Waste management facilities (PDF)
• Checklist 5: Landfill (PDF)
• Checklist 6: Lawful Development Certificate – Existing use (PDF)
• Checklist 7: Lawful Development Certificate – Proposed use (PDF)
• Checklist 8: Advertisements (PDF)
• Checklist 9: Demolition (PDF)
• Checklist 10: Removal or variation of conditions (PDF)
• Appendix 1: Biodiversity and Local Requirements for Protected Species (PDF)
• Appendix 2: Geodiversity and Local Requirements (PDF)
• Appendix 3: Lead Local Flood Authority’s Surface Water Checklist (PDF)
• Appendix 4: Health Impact Assessment Screening Template (PDF)

Response document

The Validation Document's Response document (Consultation between 10 July and 5 September 2023) and Response Document (Consultation between 29 January and 11 March 2024) summarise all the comments received on the above public consultations and outline the County Council's response to them.