Do I need Planning Permission?
What needs planning permission?
Most kinds of development require
planning permission.
The term "development" is very
broad and could mean any of the following:
- Building work such as a house, factory, shop or extension
- Changing the use of buildings or land (such as piding a house
into flats or using land for a different purpose, or running a
business from home)
- Erecting walls, fences or other structures
- Forming a new vehicle access
In addition, the Council’s consent
is usually required to alter a listed building, to demolish a
dwellinghouse or a building within a conservation area, to lop or
fell a tree within a conservation area or one subject to a
preservation order, or to display an advertisement.
Permitted Development
Some building works of a minor
nature can be carried out without the need to obtain planning
permission – these are generally referred to as "Permitted
Development". They are subject to the proposal meeting very strict
criteria, for example relating to size and detailed
positioning.
As the law relating to planning
permission is complex, and the rules governing "Permitted
Development" can change from time to time, you are strongly advised
to seek advice from the council before carrying out any development
to check whether permission is required for what you want to do.
You may also find that you need approval under the Building
Regulations or other legislation before starting work, even though
planning permission is not required.
Particular care must be taken if
the house is a listed building, within a conservation area,
affected by an Article 4 Direction, or is in the Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). In these circumstances special
rules apply.
A short amount of time
spent obtaining advice can save a great deal of wasted time later -
see our advice page.
The Planning Portal
You can do some initial
investigation yourself by using the Planning Portal. Their
visual guide to planning permission for householders will provide
useful information.