What is planning permission?
Planning permission is the approval you need to build or extend your home. It isn’t the same as building regulations, which are set by the local authority. Planning permission gives you the go ahead to build a property, but if there are rules about what can be built on that site it’ll outline them in detail.
What is planning permission?
Planning permission is the permission you need to build a new home, or carry out certain building projects.
Planning permission can be obtained from your local council for any proposed development in England and Wales (Scotland has its system). It doesn’t matter whether the property is yours or not; if you’re planning on carrying out any kind of work on another person’s land, then it’s worth contacting them first so that they know what’s going on before anything begins.
There are two types of applying for planning permission: outline and full applications. An outline application just identifies broad areas such as size, scope and location without getting into too much detail about how things will be built; a full application gives more information about how things will look once completed with construction details specific to the change.
Full and Outline Planning permission
Planning permission is granted in two types: detailed planning or full and outline planning.
Full and outline planning permissions are the most common types of planning permission granted.
The Outline permission gives you an approval in principle and can save you time and money when deciding on what to build. If you’re unsure if your proposal is going to be approved, it is worth looking at the outline permission. There is a lot less information to submit for this type of application.
Full or also called detailed plans can be applied for after approval in principle has been granted from the outline planning permission; they set out exactly what work will be carried out on the land, including details such as materials used, dimensions and landscaping details. However, if you want to change use or make alterations to your home without building an extension, you’ll need further consent from your local council – otherwise known as ‘permitted development rights’ (PDR) – which allows minor changes without the need for official approval.
If you have a smaller extension, less than half of a metre from the boundary of your home, then you don’t need planning permission. However, if you want to extend further, this is classed as major development and will need approval.
Why do you need planning permission?
Planning permission is required for a range of building projects and types of development. This can include the following:
- Any non-permitted development at all, including domestic extensions such as conservatories and porches or internal alterations to existing buildings;
- New houses, garages (including detached double garage), carports and other outbuildings;
- Conversion of any building for use as a dwelling house (note that this includes flats above shops/offices);
- Changes in use from an office building to another type of use (e.g., school to residential);
- Demolition or alteration to listed buildings (these must be referred by English Heritage).
How to get planning permission
It depends on whether you are a homeowner or a developer.
For homeowners, the process is fairly straightforward. You will need to contact your local council and ask them what they require of you in order to find out if planning permission is required for your project. It’s best to do this as early on in the planning process as possible so that you’re able to work around any potential issues before they arise and cause delays. If you want help with any parts of the application process, plenty of local experts can assist with things like filling out forms or compiling evidence for submission (though these typically charge by hour).
A developer will need much more information than a homeowner does–for instance, they’ll need architectural plans showing how their building projects would look after completion–but at least part of that burden will be eased if an architect has already been hired for this purpose, since architects often have experience working with local authorities across various projects in different areas around town!
Is planning permission the same as building regulations?
There is a common misconception that planning permission and building regulations are the same thing. They aren’t. Planning permission relates to land use, whereas building regulations relate to ensuring that buildings are safe for people using them in everyday life.
Planning permission is a legal requirement if you want to build anything on your property that isn’t what you would consider “permitted development,” which we’ll go into later in this blog — it’s why you need an architect when applying for planning permission! On the other hand, building regulations have been introduced to ensure the property is built for safe use and is environmentally friendly.
You need to get planning permission before starting certain building projects.
Planning permission is required for any development that is not covered by permitted development rights or will affect your local area’s appearance.
Planning permission is also needed for any changes to existing buildings, including:
- Extensions or alterations to property boundaries (including fences and walls)
- New buildings (including sheds and garages)
- Changes to use of land and buildings, for example converting a house into flats or an office into a shop
Conclusion
Planning permission is important before you start building a new home or any other structure. It ensures that your plans are in line with the local council’s regulations and allows them to manage issues like traffic flow, noise pollution and environmental impact. If you are considering building anything on your land, it’s essential that you contact your local planning department and find out what they require before starting construction work.
Some councils provide free phone consultations and point you in the right direction to who you need to speak on getting things done at your property.