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You do not always need to make a planning application for if you are going to alter or improve your home. The following guide explains the cases where you might not need to make a planning application. However, you are strongly advised to study carefully the Important Notes at the end of this area, and to seek written confirmation before starting work.
This advice is based on the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development ) (Amendment) (No.2) (England) Order 2008 which includes significant changes to the legislation that was previously in force.
The Planning Portal has an interactive guide on this subject.
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
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If you live in a single family house (not a purpose built or converted flat or a shop or a commercial property) you may be able to build an extension without the need to make a planning application, subject to the following limits and conditions:
The term original house means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation area s and World Heritage Sites.
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
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Converting your attic and installing Velux type roof windows may not need planning permission. However, you will always have to comply with the building regulations and you should always check with the Development Control Section of Planning Services on the particular circumstances of your property. If you wish to install dormer windows you will not need to submit a plannimng application subject to the following limits and conditions:
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
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You do not need to make a planning application to add a porch to a single family dwelling providing it is within the following restrictions:
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You will need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate and:
You will not need to apply for planning permission to take down a fence, wall,or gate, or to alter or improve an existing fence, wall or gate (no matter how high) if you don't increase its height. In a conservation area, however, you might need conservation area consent to take down a fence, wall or gate.
You do not need planning permission for hedges as such, though if a planning condition or a covenant restricts planting (for example, on 'open plan' estates, or where a driver's sight line could be blocked) you may need planning permission and/or other consent.
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
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You do not need to make a planning application to erect a garden shed, garage or other outbuilding subject to the following limits and conditions:
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You do not normally require permission to install replacement windows in a single family dwelling unless you live in a listed building. However, in parts of the Old Town, Burtons' St Leonards and St Leonards West Conservation Areas there are special restrictions and you will need to apply for permission.
If you live in a block of flats (purpose built or converted) or a commercial property you will need to make a planning application. If you live in a Conservation Area you should discuss your proposals with the Conservation Section of Planning Services at an early stage because planning permission may not necessarily be granted for inappropriate replacement windows which do not reflect the character of the area.
Further information about the Article 4 Direction can be found in our Conservation pages.
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
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The Planning Portal has an interactive gide to satellite dishes.
These questions will help you establish if you need to submit a planning application to install a satellite dish:
If you do live in a Conservation Area it is your responsibility to apply for the necessary planning permission, not the installer, and you should be aware that an application is likely to take 6-8 weeks to determine.
For further information please refer to our leaflets page.
If you have an existing analogue dish sited on the front of your property which does not comply, and you are replacing it with digital equipment, you will need to make an application. You should discuss your proposal with the Conservation Section of Planning Services at an early stage.
Wherever possible dishes in Conservation Areas should not be on the front of the building and planning permission is unlikely to be granted unless the dish is not readily visible from the front. It may be possible to attach the dish to the side of the building thus avoiding the need for an application, or you could consider a dish mounted separate from the building in the rear garden, or on the rear ( sometimes a dish can be directed over the roof)
If you live in a listed building listed building consent will always be required and you should discuss your proposal with the Conservation Section of Planning Services at an early stage.
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These notes are intended to provide guidance on the planning legislation only.
Before starting work you are strongly recommended to write to the development control section of regeneration and planning with a sketch of your proposals, showing the dimensions and location, asking for confirmation that a planning application is not required. There is no fee for this service.
Before starting work you should always check with the Building Control Section of Planning Services with regard to the requirements of the building regulations.
Before starting work you should check that there are no restrictive covenants in the deeds to your property restricting the work you propose.
The 'Permitted Development'; allowances described relate only to single family dwellings and not to flats (purpose built or conversions) or commercial properties (apart from the allowances for satellite dishes which also apply to small blocks of flats).
If you live in a listed building you should always discuss your proposals with the Conservation Section of Planning Services at an early stage.
The following booklets are available free of charge from Planning Services:
The following can be downloaded from the Communities and Local Government Website:
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This page last updated: 01/10/2008