Planning Permission
Useful information and links to help you understand the Planning Permission requirements.
The planning fees are currently £85.00 for a permitted development, £150.00 for an extension, loft conversion or £335.00 for a new dwelling. We are able to advise regarding up to date local authority prices during the Initial Consultation stage.
The links provided here are hosted on official government portals and web sites and are offered for information purposes only. Plans4urhome is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Do I Need Planning Permission?
Our advice is always to check with your Local Authority Planning Department.
If the Planning Department verbally informs you that permission is not required, ask for a confirmation in writing and file it with your other important house documents.
The Need for Planning Permission
Planning permission will be required when:
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Making an extension to a domestic property but not when making internal alterations that do not affect the aesthetics of the property.
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Dividing part of your property into a usage as a separate home.
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Dividing part of a property for commercial usage or when building a parking place for a commercial vehicle.
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Making changes through building that opposes the terms of the original planning permission of the property (e.g. when building a fence in a front garden that is within an "open plan" estate).
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Any work that is to be done will involve a new or wider access to a trunk or classified road.
If you live in a Conservation Area, a National Park, etc., you will need to make an application for certain types of work that may not need an application in other areas. There are also other considerations when the property is a listed building.
We can advise you on all aspects of Planning Regulations to ensure that all required details are included when submitting an application.
Extending a domestic property
The need to apply for planning permission arises:
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When you wish to build an extension which would be closer to a highway than the nearest part of the original building, unless there is at least 20m between the extension and the highway.
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When more than half the original building would be covered by the extension.
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When the extension is to be higher than the original building; or is more than 4m high and within 2m of the boundary of the property.( This does not apply to roof extensions.)
Special Considerations for Loft Conversions and Dormer Windows
It is not normally required to apply for planning permission when for the re-roofing of a house; or the insertion of roof lights or skylights. However, you need to apply when:
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The extension to any roof slope will face the highway.
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The roof extension may add more than 40 cubic metres to the volume of a terraced house or 50 cubic metres to other kinds of houses.
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The height of the roof would increase.
Adding a Porch to Your Property
Planning permission for a porch applies when the extension would have an externally measured ground area of more than 3m, or would be higher than 3m above ground level, or would be less than two metres away from the boundary or public highway.
Erecting a Physical Barrier (e.g. wall )
Normally permission is not needed, unless the property is a listed building; or the wall, would be over 1m high and next to a public highway used for vehicles; or over 2m high elsewhere.
The Type of Application
In most cases you will need to make a full application, but there may be some situations where you may want to make an outline application - this means that the you can find out what the your local council thinks of the building work before detailed drawings are produced.
Each application must be accompanied by an OS. Site Plan, and a copy of the drawings showing the proposed work, including the appropriate fee.
When Permission is Granted
Unless the permission states otherwise, you can commence the building work any time within five years of the granting of permission. If you have not started work by then, you will need to re-apply.
If outline approval has been granted, you will need to submit a further application for approval of reserved matters before starting work. This must be done within 3 years of the approval of outline permission.
As stated, planning permission is usually required for most developments.
However, smaller extensions and certain loft conversions may be allowed under your permitted development rights.
There are also other 'permissions' that may be required depending on the development.
The most common are:
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Listed Building Consent
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Conservation Area Approval
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Tree Preservation Orders.
Once approved you have three years to start the building works.
Please visit the following links for further, up to date information from the government.
