Approvals
Planning permission for home projects, in plain English
Planning permission answers one question: may this be built here, in this form. It says almost nothing about how it must be built, what it will cost, or whether your builder's quote is complete. Homeowners who understand that distinction avoid a lot of unpleasant surprises.
Permission, permitted development and lawful development
- Some work falls under permitted development and needs no application, subject to strict size and position limits.
- A lawful development certificate is the way to prove permitted development formally — useful when you sell.
- Householder planning applications cover most extensions that exceed those limits.
- Conservation areas, listed buildings, flats and previously extended homes change the rules significantly.
What the process typically involves
- Drawings of the existing and proposed building, plus a location plan.
- An application fee and a validation check before the clock starts.
- A consultation period in which neighbours and consultees can comment.
- A decision, commonly around eight weeks for householder applications, sometimes longer.
- Conditions attached to an approval, which often require information before work starts.
What approval does not mean
It does not mean the design is buildable as drawn, that building regulations are satisfied, that party wall matters are resolved, or that the price you were given is right.
Planning conditions are frequently missed. Discharging a condition can take weeks, and starting work in breach of one causes real problems later.
Case-style example
Approved, but not ready
A family receives planning approval and books a builder for six weeks' time. The decision notice includes conditions on materials and on a drainage strategy, both to be approved before work commences.
Nobody reads the conditions until the builder asks for them. The start date slips by a month, and the builder charges for the gap in their programme.
Reading the decision notice line by line on the day it arrives would have cost nothing.
How The Construction Clinic helps with this decision
We are not a planning consultancy and we do not submit applications. We help you understand what your approval actually permits, what conditions are waiting for you, and how that affects your sequencing, your quotes and your start date.
Common questions
Questions homeowners ask about this
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension?
Often not, if it sits within permitted development limits for depth, height and position. Those limits are narrow and change for terraced, semi-detached and detached homes, and do not apply in the same way in conservation areas or on flats.
How long does a householder application take?
Typically around eight weeks from validation, though validation itself can add time and busy authorities take longer.
Is planning permission the same as building regulations approval?
No. They are separate processes with separate purposes; you often need both.
Can I start work while an application is being decided?
Not on work that requires the permission. Doing so risks enforcement and makes the project harder to sell later.