Compress PDF for Government Planning Applications
Compress a PDF for planning application submission — get the file under the 5MB or 10MB limits used by UK local authority planning portals without losing drawing readability.
Why teams use Compress for Planning Apps
UK local authority planning portals (most of which run on Idox or Civica) enforce file size limits per document — typically 5MB or 10MB. Large drawing PDFs with embedded site photos, OS plans, and design statements routinely exceed those limits. This tool compresses your PDF to a target size you specify, using a profile tuned for planning submissions: drawings and plans stay vector and crisp, photographs are recompressed to a print-readable resolution, and any redundant metadata is stripped.
The compressor never resamples vector content — site plans, architectural drawings, and CAD output stay sharp at any zoom — so the planning officer can still measure dimensions on screen. Only embedded raster images are touched, and the compression level is chosen automatically based on your target file size. If a 10MB target is impossible without unacceptable image loss, the tool reports back so you can split the document into separate uploads instead.
Used by architects, planning consultants, householder applicants, and planning agents. Files run over TLS, are deleted within an hour, and never logged — appropriate for documents that may include client names, addresses, and commercial proposals.
How it works
- Upload Large PDF — Drop your planning documents
- Maximum Compression — Optimized for portal limits
- Download & Submit — Ready for council upload
Key benefits
- Meets 2MB-5MB council portal limits
- Maintains drawing legibility
- Works with architectural plans
- Perfect for planning portal submissions
- Handles large scanned documents
- Fast processing for deadline submissions
Common use cases
- Local council planning applications
- Building regulation submissions
- Listed building consent applications
Frequently asked questions
- Is Compress for Planning Apps free to use?
- Yes — your first conversion is free with no signup. For heavier use, DocumePro offers a £9.99 24-hour Day Pass and a £39.99/month Professional plan with unlimited conversions.
- Are my files kept after I use Compress for Planning Apps?
- No. Every uploaded file is permanently deleted from DocumePro servers within 60 minutes under our Non-Persistence Guarantee. Nothing is retained, shared, or used to train AI models.
- Do I need to install any software?
- No — Compress for Planning Apps runs entirely in your browser. There's nothing to install and no plug-in required. It works on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- Is DocumePro suitable for UK legal, finance and accounting teams?
- Yes. DocumePro is UK GDPR-aligned, hosted on UK/EU infrastructure, and built specifically for solicitors, accountants, bookkeepers and finance teams that handle sensitive client documents.
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Upload your planning application PDF above and choose your target file size — the compressed version downloads immediately, ready for the planning portal.