What Is a Site Location Plan?
A site location plan is a scaled, map-based drawing — usually 1:1250 — that shows where your property sits in relation to surrounding roads, buildings and neighbouring land, with the application site outlined in red. It is one of the standard documents required for most householder planning applications in Newcastle and across England.
If you are preparing a planning application for a house extension, loft conversion or garage conversion, this guide explains what a site location plan shows, why the council requires it, and what makes one suitable for formal submission.
What is a site location plan?
A site location plan is a map-based drawing that shows where a property sits within its surrounding area — the neighbouring streets, buildings and land nearby.
For a planning application, it gives the council a clear picture of exactly which property the application relates to. Without it, the planning officer cannot identify the site or confirm the application is for the correct address.
What does a site location plan show?
A site location plan typically shows:
the application site outlined in red
any other land owned by the applicant outlined in blue
surrounding roads, streets and buildings
a north point
a scale bar
the correct drawing scale — usually 1:1250 or 1:2500
The red line around the application site is particularly important. It defines the exact boundary of the land to which the application relates. If the red line is drawn incorrectly — too large, too small or in the wrong place — it can cause problems during validation.
Item | What it means |
Red line boundary | Shows the land included in the planning application |
Blue line boundary | Shows any other nearby land owned by the applicant |
North point | Confirms the orientation of the plan |
Scale | Usually 1:1250 or 1:2500 |
Surrounding roads and buildings | Helps the council identify the exact site |
OS-based mapping | Provides a properly scaled planning map |
Why is the site location plan required?
The council uses the site location plan at the validation stage to confirm the application is for the correct property. Newcastle City Council, like other local planning authorities in England, checks incoming applications against a list of required documents before anything moves forward for assessment.
If the location plan is missing, unclear or not drawn to scale, the application may fail validation and be returned before it is even assessed. That adds time and delays the start of the planning process.
If you want the wider list of drawings and documents, read our Newcastle planning application validation checklist.
Can you use Google Maps or Apple Maps?
A normal screenshot from Google Maps, Apple Maps or another online map is not suitable for a formal planning application, for two main reasons.
First, online map screenshots do not normally carry the correct copyright licence for planning application use. Ordnance Survey mapping is the standard basis for UK planning location plans, and using unlicensed map data can create problems with the submission.
Second, a screenshot cannot be relied on as a properly scaled planning drawing. A planning-compliant location plan needs to show the correct scale, usually 1:1250 or 1:2500, and it should be produced clearly enough for formal planning use. A phone screenshot does not provide that level of accuracy or compliance.
What scale should a site location plan be?
For most householder planning applications, the site location plan is prepared at 1:1250 scale. This shows the application property in the context of the immediate surrounding area — nearby streets, neighbouring buildings and access points — without being so small that the site becomes difficult to identify.
Some applications, particularly for larger sites or rural properties, may use a different scale such as 1:2500. The appropriate scale depends on the size of the site and the requirements of the local planning authority.
What is the red line, and where should it go?
The red line is drawn around the boundary of the application site on the location plan. For most householder applications, this is the boundary of the property itself — the house, garden, access, parking area and any outbuildings included in the application.
Common mistakes with the red line include:
drawing it too tight, leaving out part of the garden or curtilage
drawing it too large, including neighbouring land or public highway
cutting across a building rather than following the boundary
not closing the line properly around the whole site
missing the access route where it forms part of the application site
If the red line does not correctly represent the application site, the council may ask for it to be redrawn before the application can proceed.
Is a site location plan the same as a block plan?
No. They are two different drawings, and both are often required for the same application.
A site location plan shows the property in the context of the surrounding area — streets, neighbouring buildings and nearby land. It is used to identify where the site is.
A block plan, sometimes called a site plan, shows the application site itself in more detail — the building footprint, boundaries, garden layout, proposed extension or conversion, and key dimensions. It is used to show what is being proposed and how it relates to the plot. For a rear extension, the block plan would show how far the extension projects from the rear wall, how close it sits to the boundaries, and where it is positioned on the plot.
A complete drawing package for a householder application in Newcastle will normally include both.
When do you need a site location plan?
You need a site location plan for most formal planning applications, including:
householder planning applications
full planning applications
change of use applications
retrospective planning applications
Lawful Development Certificate applications
Even where the proposed work is small, the council still needs to identify the property clearly, so a correctly drawn location plan is almost always required. For example, if you are preparing planning application drawings in Newcastle for a rear extension, the location plan identifies the property, while the block plan and proposed drawings explain what is changing.
Does a site location plan expire?
The mapping data used for site location plans is updated periodically by Ordnance Survey. For most straightforward residential applications, an up-to-date location plan prepared from current OS data is acceptable.
If there have been significant changes to the surrounding area — new roads, new developments, demolitions nearby or changes to property boundaries — it is worth checking that the map data reflects the current situation before submitting. Using an old plan can create problems if the surrounding layout no longer matches the current site.
Who prepares a site location plan?
A site location plan can be prepared by:
an architectural designer or draughtsperson as part of a planning drawing package
a planning agent or consultant
the applicant, using licensed planning map tools
For most homeowners in Newcastle, the location plan is prepared as part of the wider drawing package — alongside existing and proposed floor plans, elevations and a block plan. This keeps all the drawings consistent and avoids the situation where the location plan and the other drawings describe slightly different things.
Set Square Drafting prepares OS-based site location plans for residential planning projects across Newcastle and the North East as part of the standard drawing package.
What happens if the site location plan is wrong?
If the location plan is incorrect, the council will usually flag it at the validation stage. The application may be returned with a request for a corrected plan before it can be registered — adding days or weeks before the planning assessment starts.
In some cases, a mistake is not spotted until later in the process, which can create complications if the red line does not match the actual application site. Typical problems include the wrong property being outlined, the red line missing part of the garden or the access route, the plan being out of date, or the scale not being clear.
Getting the location plan right from the start avoids these delays.
Frequently asked questions
Is a site location plan required for every planning application?
A site location plan is required for most planning applications because the council needs to identify the application site clearly. This usually includes householder applications, full planning applications, Lawful Development Certificate applications and retrospective applications.
What scale do councils expect for a location plan?
For most householder planning applications, a site location plan is prepared at 1:1250 or 1:2500 scale. The plan should also include a north point, a scale bar and enough surrounding roads or buildings to identify the site clearly.
Can I use Google Maps for a site location plan?
A normal screenshot from Google Maps or Apple Maps is not suitable for a formal planning application. A planning location plan should be based on properly licensed map data, usually Ordnance Survey mapping, and prepared at the correct scale.
What is the difference between a site location plan and a block plan?
A site location plan shows where the property sits in the wider surrounding area. A block plan shows the application site in more detail, including the building, boundaries, proposed works and key dimensions.
How Set Square Drafting prepares site location plans
Set Square Drafting produces OS-based site location plans for householder planning applications across Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider North East.
Every location plan is prepared from current Ordnance Survey data at the correct scale, with the application site boundary drawn accurately and clearly. The plan is checked against the other drawings in the package to make sure everything is consistent before the PDF pack is issued.
For most standard residential projects, the location plan is included as part of the full planning drawing package alongside floor plans, elevations and a block plan.
Need planning drawings for a Newcastle application?
If you are planning a house extension, loft conversion, garage conversion or other residential project in Newcastle or the North East, send your project details. We will review the brief and provide a fixed quote before any work begins.
Set Square Drafting — Newcastle planning drawings from £450, including a correctly prepared site location plan ready for council submission.
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