Building demolition

If you decide to demolish a building, even one which has suffered fire or storm damage, it does not automatically follow that you will get planning permission to build a replacement.

Listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas

You do not need to make a planning application to demolish a listed building or to demolish a building in a designated conservation area. However, special consent may well be required. You should discuss this with your local planning authority before you take any decision to demolish buildings in sensitive locations to avoid the risk of legal action being taken against you.

Elsewhere

You will not normally need to apply for planning permission to knock down your house or any of its outbuildings, unless the council has made an 'Article 4 direction' restricting the demolition or alterations you could normally carry out under permitted development rules.

However, where demolition of any kind of residential property is proposed, the council may wish to agree the details of how you intend to carry out the demolition and how you propose to restore the site afterwards. You will need to apply for a formal decision on whether the council wishes to approve these details before you start demolition. This is what is called a 'prior approval application' and your council will be able to explain what it involves.

Internal Links:
Listed Buildings 
Conservation Areas