Planning Applications
A guide for small businesses in dealing with planning applications, information on how to apply and useful tools is available on Planning Portal's website.
The Planning System
Any business looking to extend its premises, build a new premises or convert an existing building to suit its purposes may at some point come into contact with the planning system.
An important starting point is to find out who your Local Planning Authority is and how to contact them. You can do this by using the Planning Portal’s finder.
What development can take place – and where – is governed by guidance, strategies and plans drawn up by local, regional and central government, through Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). LDFs set out how an area is likely to change over the coming years, and what types of development can take place where, for example where new retail development should go.
Most new buildings, major alterations to existing buildings or changes of use to existing land or buildings need consent - known as planning permission.
Each application for planning permission is made to the local planning authority for the area. Pre-application talks with your local authority can be a useful way of establishing what information is needed to support your application and how long the process is likely to take. Some local authorities will charge for pre-application discussions but this will depend on the size and complexity of the application being made.
There is a charge for submitting a planning application, to help cover the local planning authority's costs in processing it. There is a scale of fees with higher charges for applications for major development.
Is planning permission needed?
You do not always need planning permission. It is not generally required for internal building works, or for small alterations to the outside such as installing telephone connections and alarm boxes. Other small changes, for example putting up boundary walls and fences below a certain height, have a general planning permission for which a specific application is not needed.
Planning permission is often necessary to change the way that land or buildings are used. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) puts uses of land and buildings into various categories.
These categories group uses which have a similar land use impact, so where the change of use would not materially change the impact there is no need for planning permission. For example changing a restaurant to a shop will not require planning permission but changing a car showroom to a shop will. There is more information about Use Classes here. If in doubt ask your local planning authority for advice.
It is not always necessary to make the planning application yourself, you can appoint an agent (for example an architect, a planning consultant or a builder) to do it for you.