Most applications require a full planning application. You can also submit an outline planning application to see if a development would be acceptable. If the proposed work is for an advertisement, on a listed building, in a conservation area or on a protected tree you may require separate consent.
Outline planning
Outline planning applications can be made to find out whether the development is acceptable in principle. It has the advantage that detailed drawings are not needed. Once outline permission has been granted, you will need to ask for the details to be approved. This is known as reserved matters and must be done before work can start.
Full application
Most applications are full planning applications requiring you to submit all details of the proposal. It is appropriate if:
- You wish to change the use of land or buildings
- For domestic and comercial development
Listed building consent
You need to apply for listed building consent if:
- You want to demolish a listed building or
- You want to alter or extend a listed building in a manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest
You may also need listed building consent for any works to separate buildings within the grounds of a listed building. For more information, refer to listed buildings.
Conservation area consent
If you live in a conservation area, you will need conservation area consent to:
- Demolish a building with a volume of more than 115 cubic metres
- Demolish a gate, fence, wall or railing over 1 metre high next to a highway (including a public footpath or bridleway) or public open space or over 2 metres high elsewhere
Advertisement consent
If you wish to display an advert you may well need advertisement consent as the advertisement control system covers a very wide range of advertisements and signs including:
- Posters and notices
- Placards and boards
- Fascia signs and projecting signs
- Pole signs and canopy signs
- Models and devices
- Advance signs and directional signs
- Estate agents' boards
- Captive balloon advertising (not balloons in flight)
- Flag advertisements
- Price markers and price displays
- Traffic signs
- Town and village name signs
You are unlikely to need consent for signs less than 0.3 metres squared on your house with a name or number on it. Temporary notices up to 0.6 metres squared relating to local events (fetes and concerts for example) can be displayed for short periods.
Certificates of lawfulness
A certificate of lawfulness for proposed or existing use is a statutory document confirming that the use, operation or activity named on it is lawful for planning control purposes on the date specified in the document. It enables the council, where sufficient evidence exists and all the conditions are satisfied, to grant a certificate in relation to:
- An existing use of land, some operational development or an activity in breach of a planning condition which has become lawful or
- A proposed use of land or buildings or some operational development to be carried out which would need to be lawful
Works to trees
You will need to submit a tree works application if you wish to carry out works on trees:
- Protected by tree preservation orders
- Located in conservation areas