Making a planning application

Is planning permission needed?

You do not always need planning permission. It is not generally required for internal building works, or for small alterations to the outside such as installing telephone connections and alarm boxes. Other small changes, for example putting up boundary walls and fences below a certain height, have a general planning permission for which a specific application is not needed.

Planning permission is often necessary to change the way that land or buildings are used. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) puts uses of land and buildings into various categories. These categories group uses which have a similar land use impact, so that under the Use Class Order, planning permission is not needed when a change of use would result in similar land use impacts to those of the existing use but it is needed when the land use impacts would be different. There is more information about Use Classes here.

If in doubt ask your local planning authority.

It is not always necessary to make the planning application yourself. You can appoint an agent (for example an architect, a planning consultant or a builder) to do it for you.

Who can apply for planning permission?

Planning permission runs with the land. Therefore the question of who is to carry out the development for which permission has been granted, or who later occupies the premises, is not normally relevant. Land or buildings can usually be bought or sold with the benefit of planning permission.

Occasionally, however, planning conditions may limit the use or occupation of the land or premises to a named person or company. If you wish to sell or let a building or land which is subject to such a conditional permission, you will need to apply to the local planning authority to remove the condition.

A planning application will not be valid unless the appropriate Certificate of Ownership is completed and submitted with the application.

How to apply for planning permission

There are a number of ways to apply for planning permission. Forms are available from your local authority planning offices and often their websites.

Broadly speaking, there are two main kinds of application:

Outline

For a new building, you may be able to make an outline application to find out whether the development is acceptable in principle. This usually means that detailed drawings are not needed. However, the council can require additional information, or insist that a particular application be made as a full application. If outline permission is granted, you will need to get approval of the details (known as ‘reserved matters’) before work can start. These comprise siting, design, external appearance, means of access and landscaping. What you propose must be consistent with the outline permission. If your proposal changes, you may be asked to start again with a fresh application.

Full

A full planning application requires the submission of all details of the proposal. It would be appropriate if you wish to change the use of land or buildings, or if you want to start work quickly.

You can use the Planning Portal’s online service to find out what sort of planning permission you need and apply for it online.

Apply for planning permission online

Guidance on planning application fees and the Planning Portal fee calculator