If you are thinking of making alterations to your property you will need to contact planning services to find out if you need planning permission. Our web page on permitted developments explains more about when you need planning permission.
You are likely to need planning permission if you want to build a new home; alter, extend or change its use (for example for bedsits or workshops) or to make changes to a listed building. Whether or not you need to apply for permission, you should think about
- talking to your neighbours and getting their views on what you want to do
- making sure your plans are in similar style and materials to existing buildings
- crime prevention and making your home safer
If you need to apply for planning permission you will be asked to complete an application form to submit with your drawings and a fee. Please see our page application forms and guidance notes web page for more information on this. When we receive your application, we will check to make sure we have all the information we need and that it is correct. We also check that you paid the correct fee.
Applications are publicised on a weekly list, which is sent round to libraries and parish and town councils. Some may be advertised in the local press or we may put a notice on site or send letters to your neighbours. We allow 21 days for anyone to comment on applications. We might need to get specialist advice about highway access and safety, effects on the environment and flood risk.
We visit the site of all applications. If there are any problems with your application, which don’t need major changes to your scheme, then we will talk to you about these. We will send you a decision notice after our decision has been made. It will tell you why the application has been approved or refused and if we have given permission any conditions that you have to meet.
If you feel that your application has been unreasonably refused you can amend and re-submit or you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate within six months of the decision. We will send you advice on how to appeal with the decision notice.
You can make small, insignificant, changes to your planning permission provided you fill in a non material amendment form and return it to us with the revised drawings (highlighting any changes). Please see our web page on application forms and guidance notes.
If you build something which needs planning permission without getting permission first, you may be forced to put things right later.