What happens after planning approval?
Planning permission confirms that your local authority accepts the principle and appearance of what you want to build. It does not confirm that your project is designed, priced, compliant or ready to start. This guide explains what usually comes next.
Planning is one permission, not all of them
Building control approval is a separate process covering structure, insulation, fire safety, drainage and ventilation. Party wall matters, highways licences and drainage build-over agreements may also apply.
- Planning: what it looks like and where it sits
- Building control: how it is built and whether it is safe
- Party wall: your obligations to neighbouring owners
Turn permission into information
Builders can only price accurately from information. Structural design, specifications and a defined scope remove the biggest source of pricing differences.
- Structural engineer's design and calculations
- A written scope with inclusions and exclusions
- A specification for finishes and fittings
- A realistic budget including fees and contingency
Only then approach builders
Inviting quotes before the information is ready produces quotes that cannot be compared and budgets that move once work begins.