The UK Planning System
The ‘Town & Country Planning Act’ was started in 1947 to assist the UK’s planning authorities. This meant that any building works needed permission from the local authority before works were allowed to start. The Act approved pre-existing uses and buildings, any ‘material change of use’ of property also required permission. With occasional exception, work can not start on site prior to permissions being granted.

Permitted Development
Applies to certain types of building works that mean you do not need planning permission. These are classed as minor works. Permitted development usually applies to small house extensions that match certain specific criteria volume, location and materials being key.

Planning or Permitted Development?
Ask yourself when considering do I need planning permission?:
1. Is your proposal for ‘development’, meaning does it materially change the use of the property?  
2. Whether your proposed changes could be classed as permitted development.  

Planning Policies
If planning consent is required for your particular development scheme your ideas have to meet local authority planning borough polices. They present this in their Unitaritarian Development Plan (UDP). It is very important to have an understanding of these if you have choose to appeal a refusal to grant planning permission for your project. This is an area that an architect can help with if the situation arises.

Development Control
Local planning departments will have a development control team and it is the people who work there who are known as planners. These people implement the local authorities policies and administer things with the statutory authorities and utilities, like water, sewage, highways and your neighbours enquires.

If you application receives any objections, especially from neighbours, they will usually refer it to a committee for a verdict.

How long does it take?
Planning usually takes around 8 weeks to get a decision so you need to build that time into your plan. 

If you would like to discuss your project with Urbane Design please call us on 0208 966 0601.