User guide

Introduction Using the historical planning plotting sheets Viewing the plotting sheets Viewing the decision notices

Introduction

Planning decisions and history searches post 1988 can be carried out using our Public Access system but historic planning decisions, dating from 1948 to 1988, are now available using our online portal. In addition, our historic plotting sheets are also available to view online and allows a customer to carry out searches back to 1948.

The two elements are independent of each other, meaning if a customer only wishes to view historic decision notices, they can do that without needing to view the plotting sheets.

Please note, the plotting sheets will only show applications up to the end of 2005. If you need to search for applications from 2006 to present day, you can do this via our Public Access system using the Map Search facility.

Using the historical planning plotting sheets

Finding the address

The easiest way to view the plotting sheets is to use the "Address search" box. Type the address as required. The map will then zoom to this address.

If you don't have a specific address, you can use the + / - icons to zoom in and then move the map to your required area. Click the Home icon icon to reset the map and use the My Location icon icon to zoom to your current location.

Accessing Plotting Sheets

When you have found the area for which you wish to view the historic plotting sheets for, click on the map. It will display your search results similar to the below images. Note the search shows (1 of 2). The first result usually shows the "Post 1974 Plotting Sheets".

To view the second result, click on the Forward arrow icon button to move forward (or Backward arrow icon to move back) through the results. The second result will usually show the "Pre 1974 Plotting Sheets":

To view the plotting sheets from either result, click on the "More info" link. This will open a new window so do bear in mind that if you want to view the plotting sheets from the other result, you'll need to return to this window to do so.

Viewing the plotting sheets

The plotting sheets will display as thumbnails, an example is shown below. Some areas of our district have multiple plotting sheets that may show particular areas separately to the main sheet, for example, industrial estates or newer housing estates. You will likely need to check each sheet to ensure you have covered everything.

Click on one of the thumbnails and the window will change to a viewer style window:

Click on the zoom in or auto-zoom buttons and then move the sheet around until you find the area you need
Rotate the sheet if required
Planning applications will show as a red polygon with a reference number next to it. Make a note of these reference numbers to view later
Click on the thumbnails at the bottom or the forward and back arrows to the sides to view more sheets where applicable
Don't forget to repeat the above for viewing the pre-1974 plotting sheets too (if you need to)
When you are ready to view the historic decision notices, either click on the X to close the viewer window, or keep this window open and click on the tab to view your previous window (Map Lookup)

Viewing the decision notices

To view the historic decision notices (1948 to 1988), click on the Reference Lookup button at the top of the website:

Enter the reference number as the help text suggests, e.g. 76/21 then click on Find Decision
Sometimes the results will show multiple entries:
Scroll up and down the list to find the relevant reference number.
Click Download PDF on the relevant entry to open and / or save (these options should appear at the bottom of your screen in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge)

Please note, this system will only allow you to search for decision notices up to the end of 1988. Decision notices from 1989 to present day can be found using our Public Access system.

Accessibility statement

How accessible our website is Feedback and contact information Reporting accessibility problems with this website Enforcement procedure Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person Technical information about this website's accessibility Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations Content that isn't in plain English

This accessibility statement applies to Historical Planning Decisions (https://historicalplanning.braintree.gov.uk).

Braintree District Council run this website. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

change colours, contrast levels and fonts
zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
only use a keyboard to navigate most of our website
navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
listen to most of the website using a screen reader. This includes the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible our website is

We have designed and built our website to meet the Web Content Access guidelines 2.1 AA standard (WCAG).

We have reviewed the content on our website to make sure it is as clear and simple as possible (WCAG 3.1.5).

We will continue to review and update our content to make sure that it is:

in plain English
jargon free
has a year nine reading level

The colour contrast (WCAG 1.4.1) of our site meets AA standard for:

buttons
images

Feedback and contact information

You should contact us if you need information on our website in different formats such as:

accessible PDF
large print
audio recording
braille

So that we give you a quick response, tell us:

the web address (URL) of the content
your name and email address
the format you need the information in

We will reply to your enquiry within one working day.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We're always looking to improve the accessibility of our website.

You should contact us if you find any issues we haven't listed on this page or think we're not meeting the standard.

Enforcement procedure

If you contact us about an issue and you're not happy with our response, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) enforces the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

Our offices are open Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

By phone: 01376 552525

In person: You can visit us at Causeway House during our opening hours. We have audio induction loops at our service desk.

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Braintree District Council is committed to making our website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Our website is fully compliant with the WCAG 2.1 AA standard.

Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents published before 23rd September 2018

We do not have to make PDFs or other documents published before 23rd September 2018 accessible, if:

they're not essential to providing our services
a member of the public has published them (for example planning documents)
another organisation has published them (for example another local authority)

PDFs and other documents published after 23rd September 2018

We do not have to make PDFs or other documents published after 23rd September 2018 accessible, if:

a member of the public has published them (for example planning documents)
another organisation has published them (for example another local authority)

Live video

We are not planning to add captions to live video streams. Live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Interactive maps

Interactive maps are exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Content that isn't in plain English

When we built our website, we used a detailed guide to write our content to a year nine reading level.

All new pages and documents we publish on our site will have a year nine reading level or lower.

We will only write pages and documents above this reading level if there is a legal need to do so.

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Map lookup

Reference lookup

Plot sheet result