Planning permission

You will need to obtain planning permission for most building works or changes of use of land or buildings.

However not all building works or changes of use require the submission of a planning application to the Council. There is a wide range of development that is granted planning permission by regulations made by central government.

If you are proposing to alter or extend your property, intending to erect a new fence or wall, or maybe provide a hardstanding for your car, an important question you need to ask is:

Do I need planning permission?

You will need to determine whether or not you will require planning permission before you start work on your proposal. Beware; if you build something that requires planning permission without obtaining permission first, you may be forced to put things right later, which could prove costly, inconvenient and troublesome. You may even be required to remove an unauthorised building.

These pages give advice and information to help you to determine whether or not you will require planning permission.

You can also contact a member of the planning team for further advice, but if you want to obtain a formal ruling you can apply for a certificate of lawful development. The necessary forms are available from us and can be downloaded from our forms, fees and guidance page.

Certificate of lawful development

Certificates of lawful use or development are certificates issued by us, which establish that the use or development of land is lawful in two circumstances:

Article 83A Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development

This is where you wish to confirm that any existing use, or operation, or activity in breach of a condition or limitation on a planning permission that has already taken place is lawful on the date specified in the application. It is defined as being lawful if enforcement action cannot be taken against it. This may be because it had, or did not need planning permission, or it may be the case that the use or operation took place so long ago that the time for enforcement action has expired.

Article 83B Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development

This is where you wish to confirm that what you are proposing would be lawful ie it would not require express planning permission. For example you may need to establish that what you have proposed does not constitute development, is 'permitted development', or already has planning permission.