Whether your project needs planning permission is a question that is relevant to every client. This subject can be complicated and our role is to help simplify it for you. The Planning system has been set up by the Government to ensure that the right development happens in the right place at the right time but it can seem complex at times – we are here to help you through the process.
We will explain in more detail below what the difference is between planning permission and permitted development, but, very briefly, a development (such as a new house or commercial property, house extension or commercial property extension) usually needs to have permission granted by the local planning authority unless it meets certain criteria and is therefore permitted without needing permission.
Formal confirmation that the proposed project is either permitted development or has been granted planning permission takes around 8 weeks and costs £103 or £206 respectively. Informal officer opinion (‘pre-application enquiry’) takes approximately 2- 4 weeks and costs vary from free to around £85 depending on the local authority.
Property owners, whether of residential or commercial properties, are sometimes confused by the terms ‘planning permission’ and ‘Building Regulations’ and we provide some helpful information here as the two regimes are very different. You may also have responsibilities under the construction health and safety regulations.