Do I Need Planning Permission?

What is Planning Permission?

Planning permission is seeking authorisation to do particular building works, or change the use of the building or land.

Parliament has given local councils the power to assess particular proposed works against a national and local framework.

Parliament has also passed legislation which allows you to do some types of works without seeking planning permission from your local council; known as 'permitted development'. If a formal determination is required for permitted development works from the council, then you would need to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness which is similar to the requirements of submitting a normal planning application.

How Do I Apply?

You will need to submit a planning application which meets the validation requirements set by national and local standards. The application will need to include the following:

Each council has its own specific list and therefore you may need to submit other specialist reports to comply with validation requirements. Appointing an expert in planning to manage the process is the best and safest way to ensure you're getting the best out of what you want to apply for and ensuring compliance with the set requirements.

How Long Does It Take?

The preparation of an application and getting it submitted to the council takes around 2 weeks. The application is considered by a planning officer at the council and thereafter a decision is issued within 6-8 weeks.

So whether you need planning permission or not depends on what you're proposing. With our team of experts, we can help and manage it all for you.