HOW TO GET PLANNING PERMISSION:
A practical guide for homeowners
1. CHECK THE PLANNING ROUTE
See whether your project falls under Permitted Development, needs prior approval or requires full planning permission. A Lawful Development Certificate can confirm certain works are lawful.
2. CHECK LOCAL POLICIES
Review planning history and local requirements. Check conservation/listed status, Article 4 Directions, protected trees, flood risk, and guidance on extensions, roofs and parking.
3. DESIGN FOR YOUR NEEDS
Start with what you need from the project rather than simply maximising size. A clear brief helps balance your requirements with planning constraints.
4. THINK ABOUT NEIGHBOURS
Consider privacy, overlooking, daylight, sunlight and scale. Check neighbouring windows, boundaries, ground levels, height/depth, upper-floor windows, balconies and roof terraces.
5. PREPARE ACCURATE DRAWINGS
Use a measured survey. Existing and proposed plans, elevations and sections should be accurate and consistent. Loft conversions may need roof geometry and volume calculations.
6. PROVIDE THE RIGHT INFORMATION
Check your local authority’s validation requirements. You may need planning statements, heritage, tree, flood-risk or ecology information. Validation is not approval.
7. RESPOND PROMPTLY
After submission, the council may request further information or amendments. Respond promptly and address the underlying planning concerns.
COMMON MISTAKES
- Copying a neighbouring development without checking its planning history
- Designing to maximum size without considering local constraints
- Ignoring previous refusals
- Submitting inconsistent drawings
- Assuming validation means approval
- Starting construction before obtaining necessary permissions
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
- Planning history and restrictions checked
- Correct planning route confirmed
- Local planning policies reviewed
- Accurate measured survey completed
- Neighbouring properties considered
- Privacy, scale and overlooking addressed
- Supporting documents provided
- Drawings and documents checked for consistency