Planning Permission: A Step-By-Step Guide

Whether you’re an avid DIYer or a professional in your field, the concept of Planning Permission won’t be alien. It guarantees that the correct steps are taken when looking to expand, improve or build properties. With your local planning authority having to determine if development can and should go ahead. It is an essential step in determining what additional steps, whether that be more building work or reinforcement, must be done and establishes, for certain, if your proposed development is acceptable.

Making assumptions about what does and what does not require Planning Permission can be extremely risky because many projects that once required planning authorisation are now permitted without it. This step-by-step guide will look at the steps you need to take to get planning permission, what information you will need to provide when filing, why planning is so important and what you risk by ignoring it.

Contents

• What Steps Do You Need to Take to Get Planning Permission?
• What Information About your Roof Do You Need Whilst Filing for Permission?
• What Do You Risk by Not Getting Planning Permission?

What Steps Do You Need to Take to Get Planning Permission?

If you are re-roofing your property, it is unlikely that you would need to apply for planning approval. The same holds true whether you've chosen to install roof lights or skylights. It is also unlikely that you will need to notify your local authority's building control if you are recovering or making repairs to less than 25% of your pitched or flat roof.

If you are making structural changes, changing, or restoring over 25% of the roof, or choosing drastically dissimilar materials that will affect how your roof functions, in the case of a fire for example, then you must submit a Planning Permission application. The only time you do not need to request Planning Permission is when you are repairing the roof of a building that is unheated, such as a garage or shed.

Bear in mind that certain construction endeavours will not necessitate planning permission. Industrial facilities and warehouses are two such examples of projects for which permitted development rights are typically available. However, there are many exceptions dependent on the type of dwelling and its location, so we recommend you always double check before assuming these rights apply to you.

Despite the existence of specific regulations regarding the demolition of advertisements, you should also first obtain permission from your local planning authority (LPA) via your local council to remove some outdoor signs and billboards.

To apply for planning permission, you must contact your LPA (Local Planning Authority) through your local council. If you have plans to build you can also use the Planning Portal to submit your application. For each type of application, you must create an account, but the procedure is simplified for your benefit.

What Information About your Roof Do You Need Whilst Filing for Permission?

There are two types of supporting documentation that you must submit with your application: "national" and "local." The online service will explain what you need if you are submitting your planning application online.

When it comes to applying for Planning Permission for your roof, there are a few things you must be prepared to give your LPA.

• Roofing material: if your material interferes with the way your roof is able to function in the event of a fire, your Planning Permission request being denied
• Roof slope height: you must confirm that your proposed roof does not project more than 150 mm from the plane of the existing roof slope
• Roof height: verify that the height of the existing roof is not exceeded by the proposed roof
• Side-facing windows: the windows must have obscure glazing and, if they open, they must be installed 1.7m above the floor of the room

Even though there are limited permitted constructions, homes in conservation areas are still allowed in some cases. It's a good idea to obtain approval first, before buying a home to do some major work, as you might end up with larger-than-life building ambitions that can't be completed.

Depending on whose application you submit, you may have a different amount of time to begin the task you intend to do. The standard is 3 years if it isn't specified. You will have to reapply if you don't meet this deadline. Unless there is a provision stating otherwise, the permission will transfer with the land if you are intending to buy or sell the property for which the application has been approved.

What Do You Risk by Not Getting Planning Permission?

A planning breach is an inability to acquire Planning Permission and to abide by the terms of permission. It occurs when a development that necessitates Planning Permission is conducted without permission or when a project given the green light to go ahead dependent on conditions violates said condition(s).

Whilst a planning breach isn’t necessarily illegal, if the retrospective application fails or the violation involves a rejected development, the council can issue an enforcement notice mandating you to return things to their original condition. You may appeal refusals of permission and enforcement, however, if the ruling is against you and you continue to refuse to abide, you may well be indicted since failing to follow an enforcement notice is illegal.

Final Thoughts

Whether renovating an old roof or installing a new one, you must always check if you need planning permission. Once you have secured permission for your project, you can find tiles, slates and other roof coverings here at Roofing Megastore. Have more questions? Feel free to get in touch with our award-winning customer service team on 01295 565 565, via email or using our handy live chat below.