Does anyone know whether you have to surrender your passport when applying for a new one?
Yes, send it with the appication mine came back witihn a week old one is returnd with the corner cut off. I went to the post office and used their checking service for the extra £4.00 it was worth it, I just paid the standard renewal fee (not the extra for the express service) and as I say I got it all back in a week 
. You can make an appointment at a local office and sit and wait but it costs extra.
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