In short: a location plan shows where your site is, using a wide view of the area around it. A block plan shows what you are building on the site, using a close-up view of the property and its boundaries. Most planning applications need both.
| Location plan | Block plan (site plan) |
|---|
| Purpose | Shows where the site is | Shows the proposed work on the site |
|---|
| Usual scale | 1:1250, or 1:2500 for large or rural sites | 1:500, or 1:200 for small sites |
|---|
| Area shown | The site and the streets around it | The property and its immediate neighbours |
|---|
| Key details | Site edged in red, other land you own in blue, named roads, north arrow | The building or extension, distances to the boundaries, access, parking, trees, boundary walls and fences, north arrow |
|---|
What is a location plan?
A location plan lets the council find your site on a map. It is based on an up-to-date Ordnance Survey map at 1:1250 or 1:2500, with the application site edged in red and enough of the surroundings, ideally two named roads, to pinpoint it. Our location plan requirements checklist covers it in full.
What is a block plan?
A block plan, often called a site plan, zooms in on the property to show the proposed development and how it relates to the boundaries and neighbouring buildings. It is usually drawn at 1:500, or 1:200 for small sites. Councils commonly ask it to show:
- A north arrow.
- The proposed building or extension and the existing buildings, with distances to the site boundaries.
- Neighbouring buildings, roads and footpaths, and how the site is accessed.
- Any public rights of way crossing or next to the site.
- Trees on or near the site that could affect, or be affected by, the work.
- Hard surfacing such as drives and patios, and boundary walls or fences.
- Parking, where it is relevant.
Some councils let you leave out the block plan if the location plan already makes everything clear, but most ask for one.
Site plan or block plan?
The two names usually mean the same thing: a large scale plan of the site at 1:500 or 1:200. Some councils use "site plan" for a more detailed drawing by an architect. If in doubt, check the validation checklist on your council's website.
Streetwise location plans start from £11 + VAT and block plans from £8.50 + VAT. Once you've found your site, you can add the second plan for the same site to your basket in one click, and both are emailed to you straight away.
