Do I need Planning Permission?

Planning permission may be required if you wish to construct a new building, extend or alter an existing building, change the use of land or a building or carry out other works or operations.

To see if planning permission is required please see the Planning Portal - Do You Need Permission? Development carried out before formal permission has been granted is entirely at your own risk and may be liable to enforcement action.

Development carried out before formal permission has been granted is entirely at your own risk and may be liable to enforcement action.

Please note that there are also different requirements if your property is a listed building as Listed Building Consent is likely to be required for any internal or external alterations for the property even if planning permission is not required.

In some areas the Council has removed some of your permitted development rights by issuing an Article 4 Direction. This will mean that you have to submit a planning application for work which normally does not need one. Article 4 Directions are made when the character of an area of acknowledged importance would be threatened by such works.

You will probably know if your property is affected by such a direction, but if you are not sure the boundaries of the Article 4 Direction areas are shown on the conservation area leaflets, which can be found as downloadable attachments. Although Article 4 Directions are most common in conservation areas, there is one area in the Borough that is subject to such a direction that is not in a conservation area - Undercliff Gardens. In this area some forms of permitted development rights have also been removed to protect the view from the public footpath.

Is Planning Permission Needed? Get Confirmation in Writing.

It is always a good idea to consult the Planning Department to confirm whether you need planning permission or any other form of consent, before undertaking any work. The Development Control Group has devised a pro-forma to ensure that they have all the information required to answer your permitted development queries.

You will also need to contact Building Control to check if approval is required under Building Regulations.