Householder guide to planning permission

Changes to regulations

The regulations setting out whether planning permission is required for certain types of alterations and extensions to houses changed on 6 February. A summary of the changes is available to provide general guidance on the new arrangements and the links below reflect the new categories of permitted development.

Not all development proposals require formal consent - much will depend upon the location of the property and the details of each particular proposal. 

If you are thinking of extending your house, or building within the garden, our guidance for householders gives you basic advice on whether or not you will require formal consent for the works you want to do. 

Follow the links relating to the proposal you are interested in and you can find out the rules relating to whether or not planning permission is required.  If in doubt, please contact us.

• Single storey ground floor extensions
• Extensions covering more than one floor level
• Porches
• Dormer windows and other roof extensions 
• Access ramps
• Alterations that do not enlarge your house
• Sheds, garages, greenhouses and other outbuildings
• Other development in domestic gardens
• Hardstanding and hard surfaces
• Decking and other raised platforms
• Gates, walls, fences and other means of enclosure
• Alterations and improvements to a building containing flats
• Microwave antennas (including satellite dishes and wireless broadband)
• Domestic microgeneration
• Solar photovoltaics (PV) or solar thermal on a building
• Free standing solar equipment in the curtilage of a dwelling
• A flue as part of a biomass system
• Ground source heat pumps
• Water source heat pump
• A flue as part of a combined heat and power (CHP) system
• Air source heat pumps
• Micro wind turbines
  

Other consent requirements

As well as the potential need for planning consent (and related consents such as Listed Building Consent) you should also check whether or not a building warrant is required for the proposal - you may need one even if planning permission is not required. 

If you do not own the property or land, you should also seek the consent of the owner. 

Tree works

If you wish to carry out any works on a tree, please contact our Tree Officer who is based at Council Headquarters.