Do you need Planning Permission?
By virtue of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 planning permission is required for the carrying out of development, unless the development is permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended). Development is defined as the:
"...carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land".
Certain types of development that do not require planning permission are known as ‘permitted development’ and are granted by the General Permitted Development Order 2015 (as amended):
Click on the link below to view the Interactive Guides currently available to ascertain whether planning permission would be required for particular works.
Your responsibilities:
Before you undertake a proposed development be sure that you do not need to apply for planning permission. If you require a formal determination from the Council as to whether proposed/existing works are "permitted development" you are advised to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness.
Please be aware that permitted development rights may have been removed or restricted by an Article 4 Direction, a planning condition, or due to the location of the property (e.g. in a Conservation Area). As a result, planning permission may be required for certain types of work which do not need an application in other areas. There are also different requirements if the property is a Listed Building. Please contact the Householder Duty Planner Service for more information.
It is important to note that planning permission is quite separate from an approval under Building Regulations which is concerned with making sure buildings are constructed safely and are suitable for their purpose. So you should always check with Building Control whether your proposed works can actually be built.
Typical works classed as "permitted development":
Extensions
Outbuildings
Change of use
Conservatories
Loft conversion
Fences, gates and garden walls
Doors and windows
Garage conversions
Patio and driveways
Roof
External Wall Insulation Note (pdf)
Renewable energy developments
Permitted Development Guidance/legislation:
Technical Guidance (September 2019)
General Permitted Development Order 2015
General Permitted Development Order 2015 (as amended)
Useful guide: