What is 'permitted development'?

'Permitted developments' are developments that may be carried out without the need to make a planning application. Other types of consents under planning law, such as listed building consent for works to listed buildings, may still be required. Building Regulations approval may also be required. We recommend that you check with the Development Control section before carrying out permitted developments. We will need full details of your proposals and information concerning previous extensions or developments to your property. Householders may use the Householders Enquiry form using the link on the right.

'Development' is defined by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to be, in summary, external building works, engineering works and changes of use. Some types of minor development are given blanket permission by a set of regulations- the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. These are called 'permitted development' and the ability to carry out such developments is often called 'permitted development rights'.

In some cases, normal permitted development rights have been removed or restricted by a previous planning permission or by a formal order served by the local planning authority (an 'Article 4 Direction). The Development Control section can advise whether this applies to your property.

For householders, commonly used permitted developments within the garden of houses and bungalows include many small extensions and outbuildings, drives, patios, satellite dishes, fences and walls. All of these are subject to detailed criteria.

Not only householders have permitted development rights. They apply to many different types of developer and organisation.

For some types of agricultural, forestry and telecommunication development and for the demolition of dwellings, a prior notification to the local planning authority is required, even though the proposal is permitted development. The local planning authority may refuse to approve these notifications, but only for matters of detail.

Useful forms and links can be found on the right hand side of this page.