Permitted Development

What is permitted development?

Planning permission is no longer required by the majority of homeowners for MOST loft conversions and rear extensions type developments, which has lead to around a quarter of all planning applications being removed from the system.

What Are Permitted Development Rights?

Permitted Development Rights are changes and additions you can make to your home without applying to your local authority for planning permission. They derive from a general planning permission granted not by the local authority but by Parliament. The rights are for houses – so if you live in a flat or maisonette, they do not apply.

If you live in a World Heritage Site, Conservation Area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Norfolk or Suffolk Broads, permitted development rights are more restricted, so some changes you might want to make to your home will need planning permission when they wouldn’t if you lived elsewhere. Listed buildings are also an exception to these rights.

Do you need planning permission for the change you want to make to your home?

It is always a good idea to consult the local authority to confirm whether you need planning permission or any other form of consent, before undertaking any work. Some recent developments may have had permitted development rights removed as part of a previous planning application. If this is so then it will be listed as a condition on the decision notice. In these cases, all developments that fall into the Classes that have been restricted will require planning permission. If you are unsure as to whether permitted development rights have been removed on your property then please contact us your local authority.

Planning Permission may not be required, however we advise that you apply for a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use or Development and receive approval before commencing building work commences. 

Please download the files below for further information or contact Architectural Services or your local authority.

Supporting Documents