Do I Need Planning Permission?

If you plan to build an extension, or carry out work to your home or garden there are some cases where you may not need to apply for planning permission, providing the works meet certain limits and conditions, known as Permitted Development. The Planning Portal provides answers to some frequently asked questions and offers guides covering a wide range of common projects which may not require Planning Permission, such as:

Extensions and conservatories

Garage and loft conversions

Doors and windows

Fences, gates and garden walls

Outbuildings

Decking

Satellite dishes, TV and radio antenna

Solar panels and wind turbines

Further advice on Permitted Development is available on the Planning Portals guides for common development and also a helpful interactive house, external links are given below.

If you want to be certain that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes or that your proposal does not require planning permission you will need to apply for a lawful development certificate.

Removal Of Permitted Development Rights

In some cases we may have restricted or removed permitted development rights for a particular area, building or piece of land. This is normally done to protect the character of the area or the use a building.

If the restrictions are for a particular building, they will be shown on the planning Decision Notice as a condition. If the restrictions are for an area, they will be in the form of what is called an Article 4 Direction.

Any restrictions we make will overrule Permitted Development rights. If your project does not qualify as Permitted Development, or if Permitted Development rights have been removed, you will need to apply for planning permission.

You can use our online contact form to check if your property benefits from permitted development rights.

When You Need Planning Permission

If Permitted Development rights have been removed or your project exceeds the restrictions of Permitted Development you will need to make an application for Householder Planning Permission.

If your property is a listed building you will also need to submit an application for Listed Building Consent.

Most alterations to business premises need planning permission, but some alterations may be Permitted Development. You can view the Planning Portal's interactive guide for shops on the external links given below.

Under the planning system, all land and buildings have a designated lawful use such as a dwelling house, office, cafe.

You may need planning permission to change the use of your property from a shop to an office or from a house to bedsits although some changes of use fall under Permitted Development Rights, an external link is provided below.

The Planning Portal also provides useful information and advice on running a business from home, the external link is given below.

Special consent is required for development and other works to listed buildings and those located in conservation areas.

If your proposed works are to a Listed Building, you will likely need Listed Building Consent, as well as any relevant planning permission or building regulations approval. You can find out whether your building is listed using the external link given below to the Historic England website.

Works to trees and hedgerows may require permission. If a tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), or is located within a designated conservation area, then you will need to obtain consent from the council before carrying out any works to it. You can find out more information about trees on our Tree Preservation Order page.

This is the most common type of planning application. The full details of a development proposal are submitted for consideration, including detailed drawings showing the site and the work you plan to do.

Types of development that require an application for full permission include;

• most non-householder developments
• engineering or other works
• new housing development
• temporary planning permissions
• change of use of a building and/or land.

However, if you are extending or altering an existing residential dwelling you will need to make a Householder application (see below).

An outline application allows for general principles of a development to be considered and whether they would be acceptable. This type of permission is usually for larger schemes, for example, housing developments.

If an Outline application is approved, conditions are normally attached which will need to be completed or met before further submission - this is known as a Reserved Matters application (see below).

Where the setting of a listed building is affected or if the site is in a conservation area the council may require further details for consideration. An outline application may not be acceptable in this case and an application for full permission may be required.

Where outline planning permission has been granted, an application for approval of the details, or Reserved Matters, must be submitted to the planning authority for approval before the development starts. This will typically include information about the layout, access, scale and appearance of the development (the information excluded from the initial outline planning application).

Even if you do not need planning permission you may still need building regulation approval.