Non-material variation customer service guide

How do you apply for a non-material variation?

Request a non-material variation

In addition to the form you must submit a site location plan, 1:1250 or 1:2500 in scale and amended drawings which clearly indicate the proposed variations as listed on the application form. Drawings should be to the same scale as those approved under the planning permission and the proposed variations should be clearly highlighted in colour. Applicants are requested to provide the original drawing numbers, as per the Council’s planning portal references in the original application, to facilitate comparison of the amended plans with the previously approved plans.

If a previous non-material variation application has been made, customers should ensure that these are referenced on the application form in the space provided. It should be noted that where more than one application for a non-material variation has been made, the cumulative effects of all variations will be considered by the Council to establish whether the resultant development is materially different from the original approval to the extent that a new application is required.

The application form and supporting drawings should be submitted by email to

nonmaterialvariations@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Accompanying documents should be in pdf format and should total no more that 10MB in size.

Once the form has been submitted, the application will be checked to ensure that sufficient information has been provided. The Council will then make contact to take payment and to deliver the service.

The plans and any supporting information submitted for the non-material variation application will be displayed on the Council’s planning portal for public view. As a non-material variation does not by nature raise new material planning issues, neighbour notification is not required for these applications.

If an application for a non-material variation is successful, we will agree the variation in writing and a copy of the decision letter will be added to the planning portal on the Council’s website. The drawings will then constitute the approved drawings for your planning permission. The original permission remains in effect but must be read in conjunction with the variations agreed under the non-material variation application.

Where a request for a non-material variation fails to meet one of the above criteria, then you will be advised by letter and a copy of this decision will be added to the planning portal on the Council’s website. You may then choose to submit a further planning application, which would be determined in the normal manner.