MONEY - Building Planning Permission
Despite its scary reputation planning permission is a very simple thing. It is a formal authorization obtained from the local council or local authority which approves the construction a new building or structure, or alteration, extension or change of use of an existing one.
The local authority have an statutory obligation to ensure that new builds, changes and alterations are both safe and in keeping with the area and environment, and in order to do this they look carefully at what you want to do, examine you plans and then formally decide if the work is suitable and can go ahead.
Changes in the rules for planning permission which took place in October 2008 mean that a lot of extensions, especially conservatories are no longer subject to the planning regulation and permissions process, but they MUST fall within the criteria for exemption.
To help you understand what is (and isn't) exempt from planning you can read the following two documents. (Both are taken from the Government's building advice web site, The Planning Portal. They are, therefore, Crown copyright and are reproduced by kind permission of Her Majesties Government.)
While the majority of applications are successful some are returned following the initial submission as a planning officer may want changes or amendments made to the plans. This is quite normal and the planning officer is only trying to ensure that when your plans come up for formal consideration, they won't be rejected because of some small mistake or omission.
Some applications, albeit a small number, are rejected at the final decision stage, and if this is the case you will be given a full explanation of why they were turned down, and as we said earlier an appeals process is open to you. The appeals process will be fully explained by the planning department but the Planning portal web site also gives full information on the process.
All planning applications carry a charge or fee, and this is something the Government lays down. The fee is for consideration of your plans and therefore isn't a refundable one. Details of these fees and charges are available either through the Council planning department or from the Planning Portal, and to make it easier for you, we have reproduced them here.
(Crown copyright & reproduced by kind permission of the Planning Portal.)
Venture Construction Limited asked us to point out here that building something which fails to comply with Building or Planning Regs is illegal. You could be forced to take down the structure and could end up being taken to Court.
Finally, help, advice and further information is always available from the Central Bedfordshire Planning Dept, or from their website or you can use Venture Construction Limited's free advice service detailed in the main part of this section.