What You Need to Know Before Applying for Planning Permission

Whether you’re planning to build a new house, convert a townhouse, extend a flat, or add space to your home, you’ll usually need to look at applying for planning permission from the local authority council.

The planning authority will also need to make sure that any proposed changes do not negatively affect the character of the area or cause issues for neighbours, such as blocking views, creating noise, or limiting access to shared facilities. 

Applying for Planning Permission

Architectural services generally include preparing all necessary documentation and submitting planning applications to the relevant local authority.

They also typically involve a preliminary assessment of the site and proposal to ensure compliance with all applicable local and national regulations, covering design standards, building safety, and environmental considerations.

Let’s consider what to look out for before applying for planning permission.

Do You Need a Permit?

In most cases, construction work will require planning permission from the local authority – for example, in London, this could be the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, and others.

However, certain types of work fall under permitted development rights and do not require formal approval.

In the UK, this category often includes:

• Replacing windows and doors in homes that are not located in a conservation area.
• Internal alterations, such as installing a new kitchen, remodelling a flat without removing load-bearing walls, or replacing flooring within the property.
• Installing solar panels, provided location and height restrictions are met.
• Small house extensions (outside protected areas): these must not exceed 4 metres in height, take up more than half the garden space, or extend more than 3 to 4 metres from the rear wall of the original house (depending on the type of property).
• Loft conversions: unless the roof is transformed + the added space does not exceed 40 square metres for terraced houses, and 50 square metres for detached houses, and so on.

However, the type and location of the property play an important role, as listed buildings and properties in conservation areas are subject to stricter regulations and require planning permission. Article 4 Directions also apply to some houses.

Determine the Permission Type

There are different types of permissions available in the UK depending on the type of property and the changes you plan to make.

The main options are:

• Full planning permission: if you are constructing a new building or making significant alterations to a non-residential property.
• Listed building consent: if you are making any changes to a listed (protected) building.
• Householder planning permission: if you are making changes to a residential property.
• Outline planning permission: if you need to approve a design/general concept without specific details.
• Conservation area consent: if the property is in a historic building zone, and is protected.

Study the Rules and Regulations of Local Planning Authorities

Each Local Planning Authority has a Local Plan & Supplementary Planning Guidance, which sets out the regulations, restrictions, and requirements for the design and construction of both residential and non-residential properties in a given area.

These documents provide information on matters such as building heights and dimensions, acceptable impact on neighbours (e.g., noise, lighting, overshadowing), permitted and prohibited materials, as well as guidance on parking, landscaping, and energy efficiency.

The type of building and whether it is in a conservation area will play a key role.

Prepare all Necessary Documents

You can check the list by contacting the Local Planning Authority in your area. A simpler way is to contact an architectural agency that will deal with these matters.

The general list of required documentation in the UK usually includes:

• Architectural drawings: plans of the property before and after the alterations, including facades, floors, and other details.
• Site location plan: a plan to be drawn to a specific scale.
• Block plan: a diagram showing the location of the facilities on the site.
• Design and access statement: the document should include a justification of all architectural decisions of the project + describe how the building will be accessed. Relevant for large sites (e.g., major development).
• Application form: includes the type of application, site address, description of the proposed works, list of supporting documents, and so on. It can be submitted either via the national Planning Portal (used across the UK) or directly to the local planning authority.
• Payment document: the amount varies depending on the type of property.

Next Steps After Obtaining Planning Permission

Once you receive a reply, you can also appeal (the average time to do it is up to 12 weeks). You will also need to keep an eye on the permit expiry date.

Also, be aware that the neighbours’ opinions can also influence the granting/rejection of a permit, as the council will inform them of possible building work.

Starting construction without a permit can lead to penalties, so you need to take the process seriously and follow the laws and regulations.

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