Do I Need Planning Permission?
Guidelines on Permitted
Development for Householders
Please be aware that as from the 1st October 2008 there have
been some amendments to the 'General Permitted Development Order'
(GPDO).
There are certain types of development and minor works that
can be carried out without the need to apply for planning
permission. This is known as ‘permitted development’.
Permitted Development only relates to houses and
bungalows and does not apply to flats, maisonettes, mobile homes or
residential caravans.
What you may be able to carry out as permitted development also
depends on whether you live in a detached or terraced house.
Particular care must also be taken if the building is listed,
within a Conservation Area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB) or is affected by an Article 4 Direction, or conditions on a
previous planning permission.
It is strongly advised that you seek the written opinion of
the Council whether your proposals are permitted development,
whether listed building consent is required and whether consent is
required under the Building Regulations, before any work takes
place. You can seek the informal opinion of the Council or
submit an application for the formal opinion or determination of
the Council.
To seek the informal opinion of the Council, an enquiry form
is available from the Development Control section and can be
obtained on request or by using the link below.
The charge for a 'Permitted Development Enquiry' is £75,
payable with your enquiry. A reply will usually be given
within 15 working days.
To seek a formal opinion of the council on whether planning
permission is required, an application for a Certificate of
Lawfulness of Proposed Development can be submitted. If you come to
sell your property a prospective purchaser may require formal
documentation to show that the development you carried out was
lawful, although many solicitors, building societies and banks will
rely on the expressed informal opinion of a planning officer of the
council. Application forms are available from the council and a fee
is required which can be advised on request.
Listed Buildings – If your house is a listed
building you will require listed building consent before carrying
out any type of work, even if your proposals are considered to be
permitted development.
Conservation Areas and AONB’s - What you may
be able to carry out as permitted development will also vary
depending on whether you live within a Conservation Area or an Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Article 4 Direction - Exceptionally permitted
development allowances may have been limited or removed from your
property either by a condition on an earlier planning permission,
or by a special order (Article 4 Direction). Under these
circumstances you will need to apply for planning permission,
although the normal fee for an application will not be
required.
BUILDING REGULATIONS
- Even though your proposals may be permitted development you may
still require approval under the Building Regulations. Although
there are some exemptions to this they are not the same as the
exemptions from the need for planning permission. Please contact
our Building Control Team for further advice, or:
- View
the Building Control section of our website