Making changes to a property can be a lot of works. Before starting any development works in your property, it is important to know if the development needs planning permission. The long process of applying for planning permission can be intimidating. I will explain the things that you should know about planning permission before you apply for one.
What is planning permission?
Whether to build a new building or to make any structural changes in your existing building, any major structural changes in your building will need a planning application. Planning permission is just approval from your local authority that the development you are making is approved. For minor developments like a loft conversion or adding conservatories are considered as permitted development which does not usually need planning permission.
How to get a planning permit?
Many people ask us, how they can get planning permission to build a house. The process may be a bit time consuming, but it is worth the wait. You can either chose your local authority to apply for the planning permission, or you can apply online through the planning portal. The first step you need to take is to contact your local authority planning department for advice. After receiving the advice from the authority you apply online with all the supporting documents and the fees. After a few days, the local authority will validate the application, after validation of a planning officer or the authority comes up with the decision. Your planning authority or the officer will contact you for any missing documents.
How much does Planning Permit cost?
The fees of planning applications vary depending on the nature of the development. You can use the government’s planning portal to calculate costs to find out the specific cost of the application.
Planning conditions
If your permission is granted, take a look into the letter for planning conditions. These are set by the planning authority, and even though your application has been granted, planning conditions are the rules you have to follow during the construction. To discharge these conditions, you will need to apply formally and receive a letter of confirmation, failing to do this will invalidate your approval.
Format
A planning application includes the following-
- five copies of the forms,
- signed ownership certificate,
- a site plan,
- a block plan,
- elevations of the existing and proposed sites,
- Design and Access statement and
the fee for applying. - You can withdraw the application any time before the decision is due and reapply free of charge.
How long does Planning permit take?
The local authority will inform you about a target date of the decision upon validation. Usually, it takes 8-12 weeks for the authority to decide once the application is validated.
How long does the planning permit last?
A planning application lasts three years from the decision date. This means if you haven’t started on the construction three years after the application has been granted, you have to re-apply.
What if the planning permission is refused?
Once your application has been refused, the first thing you have to look for is the reason behind the refusal. You can reapply or appeal to the planning inspectors addressing the reasons behind the refusal.
The risks of not having planning permit
If you somehow manage to do a building development, without planning permission. The local authority has every right to demolish or alter the building you put up spending so much money and effort. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Who can apply for planning permission?
You can easily apply for planning permission if you have all the necessary documents. But a planning consultant is always up to date with all the planning rules. So, by hiring one, you can save a lot of your time and effort.
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