How to get planning permission
If you are planning to extend or renovate your property to create more space or add value then it is vital you check whether you need planning permission before you start any building work. The planning system in the UK is designed to protect the UK’s countryside and the local environment. Your local planning authority is the organisation responsible for deciding whether your building work can go ahead or not. To find out whether your planning work needs permission visit the Planning Portal.
Some popular household improvements or extensions that may require planning permission include:
- Extensions
- External walls
- Roofs
- Solar Panels or wind turbines
- Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Listed building
- Conservatories
- Foundations
If you discover you do need planning permission you should apply through the Planning Portal or by ringing your local authority. The planning portal will send your application to your local council who will make a decision whether to approve your plans. If your plans for building work get declined you are allowed to appeal, visit DirectGov for details on Making an appeal.
If you find that you don’t need planning permission it is still worth checking that you don’t need some other type of permission such as party wall permission (when walls are shared with another household) or Rights of Way permission (building work blocking a public pathway).
